A strike by more than 23,000 municipal workers in Turkey’s western city of İzmir ended on Wednesday after union representatives said key points in the stalled collective bargaining agreement would be renegotiated.
The workers—employed by the Republican People’s Party (CHP) ruled İzmir Metropolitan Municipality’s companies İZELMAN, İZENERJİ and Egeşehir—walked off the job seven days ago, demanding equal pay for equal work and improved living standards amid Turkey’s persistent inflation crisis.
The decision to end the strike followed a vote held by workers gathered outside the city’s Kültürpark exhibition centre, where General Workers Union (Genel-İş) local branch leader Ercan Gül asked for a mandate to finalise negotiations. The crowd responded with chants and applause, granting the union authority to conclude the agreement.
“We gave a dignified struggle together,” Gül said. “Our only demand was fair pay for doing the same job. We will finalise this contract to strengthen our unity for the future.”
While some contract items remain under review, union leaders said they expect a deal to be signed soon. Talks also involved senior officials from the opposition CHP.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party had supported the strike on Tuesday, calling for immediate talks and backing the workers’ call for dignity and justice. “We stand with the workers,” it said in a statement. “Dignity and fairness are non-negotiable.”
The strike, which disrupted key services in Turkey’s third-largest city, has drawn national attention to wage disparities in the public sector and rising discontent among municipal workers.
Related article:
Municipal workers launch mass strike over unfair wages in Turkey’s third-largest city İzmir
