Cihan Çelik

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Since last 8 March, we have compiled the strikes and resistances where working-class women have been at the forefront against injustice and exploitation.

Since the previous 8 March, attacks on women’s acquired and civil rights have continued under the guise of the 'year of the family'. Economic constriction and poverty have deepened. The imposition of production pressure, insults, insecurity, and low wages by bosses persisted. In response, women continued their strikes and resistance in many factories, declaring "the only guarantee is collective struggle". Since last 8 March, we have compiled the strikes and resistances where working-class women have been at the forefront against injustice and exploitation.

DIGEL Tekstil

Workers at German-owned DIGEL Tekstil joined the TEKSİF union, saying 'no' to poverty wages. The boss dismissed 15 workers on 17 January 2025. The union obtained the authorisation. The boss appealed, but the workers won the authorisation case twice.

The workers demand that the boss sits at the collective bargaining (TİS) table and that the 15 dismissed workers are reinstated. Those continuing to work inside have not resigned from the union despite all forms of pressure; on certain days, they showed their determination to unionise by refusing to use staff shuttles and instead walking through the free zone to the resistance tent. Having spent two summers and two winters in a resistance exceeding 400 days, the workers are determined to return to work with union rights.

Temel Conta

In the Temel Conta factory located in the Kemalpaşa district of İzmir, the strike initiated by Petrol-İş member workers demanding wage increases and humane working conditions has exceeded 400 days. Despite it being illegal, the boss repeatedly engaged in strike-breaking throughout the process. Finally, on the 449th day of the strike, the boss’s strike-breaking was officially confirmed by a court decision. The workers are continuing their struggle despite the boss’s strike-breaking and attempts to move materials from the factory to a new workplace. The workers are demanding that a criminal case be opened against Temel Conta boss Tamer Kip.

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality

The agreement concerning 23,000 workers employed at İZELMAN, İZENERJİ, and Egeşehir, subsidiaries of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, was signed on 4 June 2025. The strike lasted for 7 days across many municipal services such as cleaning, transport, parks and gardens, public works, slaughterhouses, nurseries, soup kitchens, and car parks. However, throughout the strike, workers were constantly targeted, and manipulations were made regarding the wages they received and requested. Mayor Cemil Tugay went down to the streets to collect rubbish, engaging in strike-breaking. He attempted to antagonise the workers in the eyes of the public, trying to paint an image of 'spoilt workers'. The demand for equal pay for equal work, the fundamental demand of the striking workers, was not accepted.

Tobacco workers

In the tobacco factories Sunel, OTP, and TTL in Torbalı, İzmir, where Tekgıda-İş is organised, 1,700 workers went on strike in February and March 2025 due to a failure to reach an agreement in collective bargaining (TİS) negotiations and low wages. An agreement was reached following the strike. Wages were increased by an average of 100 per cent.

Migros warehouse workers

Workers initiated actions in 14 warehouses across 10 provinces against a 28 per cent wage increase offer and poor working conditions in Migros warehouses throughout Turkey. The de facto actions, which lasted 23 days, demonstrated that the struggle against low wages, subcontracting practices, and poor working conditions yields gains. The resistance that began at Migros also spread to the warehouses of the Şok, A101, and BİM supermarket chains. Short-term resistances occurred in these locations as well. Meanwhile, the struggle of the Şok warehouse workers dismissed in Trabzon continues.

Şık Makas

Şık Makas workers from Tokat, Istanbul, and Çorlu began a resistance by stopping work on 6 October 2025, led by their organised union BİRTEK-SEN. The workers, who were subjected to insults and heavy pressure, had their wages delayed for 6 months, and were subsequently dismissed under 'Code 22', achieved several gains during the resistance. Over time, the workers received their outstanding wages and had Code 22 removed. Şık Makas workers are determined to resist until they receive all their rights. In Dersim, Peri Tekstil workers also resisted for their union rights alongside BİRTEK-SEN.

Submed Medikal

The struggle for union rights initiated by workers at the SUBMED (Su Biyomedikal Sistemler ve Sağlık Hizmetleri) factory, which produces medical products in the Velimeşe Organised Industrial Zone (OSB) in Tekirdağ, continues. As of October 2025, workers who took leading roles in union activities were targeted. Three Petrol-İş member workers, including two women, were dismissed. Following an increase in dismissals and threats, workers set up a resistance tent in front of the factory gate on 9 November 2025 and moved into active struggle. The SUBMED boss subsequently dismissed six more female workers. In response, the workers carried out an action of refusing to leave the factory. Following a determined wait, the employer was forced to step back; the exit codes preventing workers from receiving severance pay and unemployment benefits were corrected. The nine Petrol-İş member workers who were dismissed are resolutely continuing their search for rights in front of the factory.

Smart Solar

Workers belonging to the Birleşik Metal-İş union at the Smart Solar factory in the Gebze Organised Industrial Zone went on strike against the employer's imposition of a 6 per cent poverty wage increase. Production was halted when demands for wage increases and social rights were not met. Following a 113-day strike, a collective bargaining agreement was signed after the workers' demands—primarily for wage increases and the reinstatement of dismissed workers—were accepted. The lowest wage rose to the level of 65,000 TL. Following the collective bargaining that began with the boss's 0 per cent raise offer, the strike ensured the reinstatement of 44 workers who had been dismissed, prevented the rollback of rights acquired in the previous TİS period, and secured an annual increase of approximately 50 per cent in average wages.

TPI Kompozit

At TPI Kompozit, one of the world's largest firms producing wind turbine blades in its two factories in İzmir since 2012, Petrol-İş member workers began a strike on 13 May 2025 due to the boss's imposition of a 30 per cent wage increase. The boss's uncompromising stance continued throughout the strike. The parent company, US-based TPI, filed for bankruptcy for restructuring on 11 August. Subsequently, TPI Kompozit’s facilities operating in Turkey were transferred to the Dubai-based XCS Kompozit firm on 4 September. XCS has no prior history in Turkey. During the strike process, the workers could not find a representative to address. After TPI Kompozit was transferred, all workers were given their notice while the strike was ongoing. Mediation was sought regarding their receivables. Workers, whose wages had not been paid for a long time, were forced to sign for 40 per cent of their receivables.