NEWS
Workers across Turkey go on strike as inflation bites
Soaring inflation in Turkey has propelled a wave of strikes unlike any the country has seen since the 1970s, as workers demand more money to counter the shrinking value of their pay. Supermarket warehouse worker Bekir Gok was sacked this month — alongside 256 of his colleagues for demanding an extra four Turkish liras (30 US cents) per hour, the equivalent of a loaf of bread.
However after the workers at the Migros supermarket chain went on strike, they won back their jobs as well as salary rises and other demands, giving inspiration to dissatisfied employees across the country.
“We were asking for the price of a loaf of bread! It’s nothing compared to what we’ve helped them earn since the pandemic began,” Gok said. Turkey’s annual inflation rate officially reached 48.7 percent in January, and workers have struggled to keep up with the sky-rocketing cost of living.
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Industrial action is rare in Turkey, where the major strikes that marked the 1970s remain a distant memory for most — a military coup in 1980 led to a crack down on union activities. However, the country has seen more than 60 strikes, factory occupations, protests and boycott calls involving at least 13,500 workers in less than two months, according to the independent Labor Studies Group.
One of the most prominent recent strikes was launched on February 1 by motorcycle couriers for the food delivery company Yemeksepeti Banabi. The success of delivery workers at Turkish e-commerce company Trendyol has also inspired many seeking more pay.
After being offered a pay rise of 11 percent, they went on strike in late January. After three days, they accepted an increase of 39 percent. Basaran Aksu, the organising coordinator of the Umut-Sen union, said this could just be the beginning.
Source: eNCA
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Source Link Workers across Turkey go on strike as inflation bites