Landmark Victory: Swatch Workplace Strike Ends After 17 Days with Significant Gains!

Koop-İş and Swatch Workers United: Their Struggle Has Paid Off

The strike launched by the Koop-İş Union on behalf of its members working at the luxury watch giant Swatch Group Turkey stores marks a significant milestone in the Turkish labor movement. The honorable strike, which lasted 17 days across shopping malls nationwide, driven by demands for humane working conditions, dignified wages, and fair terms, concluded with major success, bringing it officially to an end.

Following long and challenging negotiations with the employer during the strike period, an agreement was reached. The union announced that it secured significant wage increases, permanent improvements in working conditions, and strong gains in social benefits for Swatch employees. This victory is not just a contract win but a great achievement for the SWATCH workers who never gave up on labor rights, dignity, and collective struggle.

📣 TÜRK-İŞ Vice Chairman and Koop-İş Leader Alemdar: "This Victory is the Result of Organized Solidarity"

Following the successful conclusion of the process, Eyüp Alemdar, Vice Chairman of TÜRK-İŞ and President of the Koop-İş Union, stated that the achievement was more than just a collective agreement success; it was a testament to the perseverance of the SWATCH workers.

Chairman Alemdar emphasized the extraordinary spirit of solidarity and determined stance shown by the members throughout the strike:

“This fight was never walked alone. We stood hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder until our members’ rights were secured. With the solidarity, courage, and faith shown by our members, we have received the reward for this righteous and honorable struggle today. This victory is the triumph of labor, honest effort, and organized solidarity.”

He also noted that the unwavering stance of the members, along with the significant support demonstrated by national and international labor organizations, especially UNI Global Union, the TÜRK-İŞ Confederation, sister unions, the Koop-İş Union's entire organization, and the general public, were the most crucial factors in achieving this win.

🌍 Precedent-Setting Gain for the Retail Sector: A Beacon of Hope for Mall Workers

The Koop-İş Union underscored that these strike results and gains are precedent-setting, not only for Swatch employees but also for the struggle of tens of thousands of workers facing difficult conditions in shopping malls (AVMs).

The Union expressed confidence that this victory will illuminate the future of the entire retail sector and offer a new glimmer of hope for other employees in the shopping mall industry. The achievement serves as concrete evidence that all mall workers can defend their rights and achieve better working conditions through solidarity and organized struggle.

✊ Koop-İş Issues Call to Action for All Mall Employees

Following this historic success, the Koop-İş Union called upon all shopping mall employees to join the Koop-İş Union to collectively increase their strength, protect their rights, and elevate the value of their labor.

The statement concluded with the slogan, "Long live the power of labor, long live our organized struggle!"