INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY TO TURK METAL’S MASS DEMONSTRATION IN DEMANDING FAIR CONTRACT
We have concluded our rally on Jan 2nd in Kocaeli, Izmit with the participation of almost 100 thousand people. Metal workers coming from different parts of Turkey were gathered in Kocaeli town square to demonstrate vigorously their will and determination to claim their rights for the upcoming group CBA to be concluded with Employer’s Association MESS.
IndustriALL Global Assistant General Secretary Kemal Özkan attended the demonstrations and conveyed the international solidarity of our umbrella organization. Özkan gave a short speech during the rally and depicted their full support to the righteous battle manifested by Turkish metal workers to claim their pay rise against the crushing inflation rate and difficult economic situation of the country.
Following that, President Kavlak took the floor and gave his messages to the employers accompanied with the vigorous slogans came from the workers. Pevrul Kavlak emphasized the willingness of our union to conclude the process on the negotiating table in peace. But on the other hand, he urged the Employer’s Association that we may carry our actions on the street if there is a contrary case. Kavlak underlined that, we are not stranger to the streets and we can get back there if we are obliged to. President Kavlak assured the metal workers to grab the best that they can get on the negotiating table with regard to trust and reliance of our members.
President Kavlak highlighted the importance of the mass gathering not only for metal industry workers but also for the whole working class who worked round the clock at the cost of their lives during the lockdowns. Kavlak said; ‘This rally is for everyone who are in despair for their future and for all workers working under precarious and flexible working conditions’.
President Kavlak emphasized industrial actions that are carried on in many work places affiliated to Employer’s Association, MESS. Kavlak urged upon the vital role of the metal workers in terms of the industry’s resilience and the problems encountered globally in semi-conductor supply which puts many industries in a difficult situation could not be an excuse for the employers to rest on worker’s pay rise. Kavlak pointed out that Turk Metal members will go on a strike if the Group CBA could not be concluded on the negotiating table.
