Turkish Metal Workers Deliver 'No to Flexibility' Ultimatum to Employers as Contract Talks Heat Up

GEBZE, Turkey – The Türk Metal Union’s Gebze 1st Branch concluded its 6th Ordinary General Assembly on Saturday, November 29, 2025, serving as a platform for the union to solidify its stance ahead of the critical collective bargaining talks with the employer union, MESS.

The event saw high participation from union leaders and industry representatives, including Türk Metal General President Uysal Altundağ, Vice President Mesut Erdem, and Secretary-General Taliphan Kıymaz.

Altundağ’s Emotional Return and Unionization Drive

Chairing the Divan, General President Altundağ began with a heartfelt speech, recalling his ten years of service as the Branch President in the Gebze-Dilovası region. He described the area as a school that taught him "struggle, solidarity, unity, and brotherhood."

Altundağ announced that the union’s fight in the region had led to the establishment of the Gebze 1st Branch and set an ambitious target to establish a third branch in Gebze, underscoring the union's focus on expansion.

Red Line on Acquired Rights in TİS Talks

The central focus of Altundağ's address was the ongoing Group Collective Bargaining Agreement (TİS) negotiations with MESS. He confirmed that four meetings have been held, resulting in the acceptance of 51 administrative clauses, but no counter-offer on wages has yet been received from the employer side. The next and potentially final meeting is scheduled for December 8.

Altundağ issued a sharp warning to MESS regarding their proposals for flexible working arrangements, such as equalization of working hours, compensatory work, and the extension of the trial period:

"We will not take a single step back from our acquired rights. We will not leave any right of our members at that table, no matter the cost, and everyone should know this."

He urged employers to approach the table with a sense of conscience and social dialogue, not just balance sheets, stressing that the time has come to give metalworkers—who break export records and champion production—the remuneration they deserve.

Call to Organize: A Safety Net for Minimum Wage Earners

Addressing the national economic reality where a vast majority of workers are confined to minimum wage, Altundağ made an impassioned plea for broader unionization. Citing the tragedy of fatal workplace accidents, he declared that union power is the only solution to end exploitation and precarious work:

"I invite all laborers who do not want to work for minimum wage or under precarious conditions to become union members. I invite all non-union metalworkers who say 'enough is enough' in the metal sector to join Türk Metal. The strong Türk Metal is by your side."

New Focus on Social Unionism

The General President highlighted Türk Metal’s established reputation in social unionism, noting that over 42,000 members and their families utilized the union's social facilities and student dormitories this summer.

Looking ahead, Altundağ introduced new strategic focuses for the union:

• Women Members: Increasing their active participation and training.

• Young Members: Developing a new generation of skilled unionists through the Türk Metal Academy and the Great Congress of Young Workers.

• Children: Re-launching the Metal Çocuk Arkadaş Kulübü (Metal Children's Club) to host festivals and international trips, fostering pride in their parents' union membership.

The General Assembly concluded with Mustafa Teke being elected as the new Branch President, leading a unified delegation alongside representatives from major industrial firms.