Metalworkers Stand Shoulder to Shoulder with Striking Gübretaş Workers: "We Are Hungry at the Same Table" Message Amplifies Class Solidarity

Manisa – Class solidarity is growing for Gübretaş workers in Manisa, who have been on strike for nine days. The ongoing strike, led by the Petrol-İş Union, received significant support yesterday through a meaningful visit from the Birleşik Metal-İş Union. The Birleşik Metal-İş delegation, headed by its General Chairman Özkan Atar, made a strong show of support at the Gübretaş strike site.

The visit saw the participation of General Chairman Atar, along with General Organizing Secretary Fehmi Elmacı, General Education Secretary Özcan Atmaca, and numerous branch managers, representatives, and members. Amid chants of "Long live class solidarity!" and "Gübretaş workers are not alone!", the metalworkers were greeted with applause by the striking Gübretaş employees.

Union Leaders Emphasize Unity and the Fight for Dignity

Petrol-İş General Chairman Süleyman Akyüz expressed his gratitude to Birleşik Metal-İş for their support. Akyüz stated, "Employers' impositions have turned the strike into a necessity, not a right. This resistance is a struggle for life." He further highlighted that the strike is not solely about wages but also a fight for union rights and the right to organize, emphasizing that workers can only strengthen their position by uniting.

Birleşik Metal-İş General Chairman Özkan Atar, in his address, called for a unification of struggles: "We may belong to different confederations, but our table, our troubles, and our resistance are common. We demand our collective bargaining right, not charity. We will join hands and become a single fist."

Atar also drew attention to the upcoming MESS TİS (Collective Labor Agreement) process, which will concern 160,000 metalworkers starting on September 1st, and the ongoing contract agenda for public workers. He indicated that the period ahead would be one of intense struggle for the labor movement.

The visit concluded with powerful slogans such as "Workers' unity will defeat capital" and "Long live class solidarity!", underscoring the deep sense of camaraderie and shared purpose among the workers. This show of solidarity at Gübretaş exemplifies the growing inter-union support in Turkey amidst challenging economic conditions and ongoing labor disputes, highlighting that workers' demands extend beyond mere wage increases to encompass fundamental rights and dignity.