Türk Metal and MESS at the Table: 2025-2027 CBA Negotiations Begin, 15 Administrative Clauses Accepted

ISTANBUL – The critical 2025-2027 Term Group Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between Türk Metal Union, one of Turkey's largest labor unions, and the Turkish Metal Industrialists' Union (MESS), the employers' organization of the metal industry, have officially commenced. The first meeting of the negotiations, which concern tens of thousands of metal workers, was held on Monday, October 13, 2025, at the MESS headquarters in Istanbul.

Rapid Progress in the First Session: 15 Administrative Clauses Accepted

In the opening meeting, where Türk Metal Union officials and MESS representatives gathered, the administrative clauses of the agreement were discussed, and significant progress was made in the first session. A total of 15 administrative clauses, proposed by the union, were accepted and finalized by both parties.

The accepted administrative clauses included introductory sections forming the basic framework of the agreement, such as Article 1 Definitions and Article 2 Purpose. Additionally, consensus was reached on Article 3, 4, and 5, which define union recognition, representation, and responsibilities, as well as Article 6 Scope and Benefiting, which regulates the scope of the agreement.

The following clauses, which specifically concern workers' rights and workplace procedures, were accepted in line with the union's proposal:

• Complaints and Disputes: Article 19 (Complaint Stages), Article 20 (Dispute Resolution Board), Article 21 (Special Arbitrator), and Article 22 (Special Arbitration Board and Working Procedure).

• Workplace Regulations: Article 59 (Change of Job and Workplace), Article 62 (Detention, Custody, and Conviction), and Article 63 (Certificate of Employment).

• Other Clauses: Article 10 (Deductions Subject to Consent) and Article 24 (Discipline Board).

Wages and Social Clauses Are Next

The rapid consensus reached on administrative matters in the first meeting created a positive atmosphere for the upcoming negotiations. Following the completion of the administrative clauses, the parties are expected to move on to clauses concerning wage increases, social rights, and working conditions, which are vital for the purchasing power of metal workers.

Türk Metal Union and MESS delegations also set the date for the next meeting. The second session of the Group Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations will be held at the MESS General Headquarters office on Friday, October 31, at 10:00 AM. Metal workers and the public are now awaiting this date for developments in the wage section of the agreement, which is expected to be the most challenging part.