Turkish Metalworkers’ Union (Türk Metal Sendikası) Announces 2025-2027 MESS-Group CBA Proposal

• 9-4-2025

Ahead of the Group Collective Bargaining Agreement process covering the 2025-2027 period, which will begin between the Turkish Metalworkers’ Union (Türk Metal Sendikası) and the Turkish Employers Association of Metal Industries (MESS), our President Uysal Altundağ announced our contract proposal at the Ankara Branchs Expanded Representative Assembly meeting on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The meeting was broadcast live on our union's social media accounts. Our President Uysal Altundağ, made the following statement when announcing our draft:

“Today, here, we are all together, opening the first pages of a new collective bargaining period with a fresh start. The draft, which will be the subject of the agreement to be signed between our Union and MESS, which I will share with you shortly, is the product of a union democracy unparalleled in the world, having emerged through transparent and scientific methods implemented over the last three months.”

“Let me explain why I say this. In June, we convened our Expanded Assembly with representatives from all the regions where we are organized and met in Ankara. Then, we convened our Branch Presidents' Assembly. We exchanged valuable opinions over two days. We defined our roadmap and pressed the button. Between July 1st and 8th, our vice presidents traveled to the regions. They held separate representative assembly meetings in our branches. They received initial feedback from our representatives on the draft. Then, between July 9th and 11th, we conducted a survey prepared by our research center among all 140,722 members working at 196 workplaces affiliated with MESS. We weren't satisfied with that. To verify our work, we enlisted the help of an independent research firm specializing in this field. This firm asked its members, using its own methods, questions they had previously determined. With the participation of 10,000 members, we completed this study between July 14th and 18th.”

“We then monitored the annual leave programs of our workplaces. Following their return from leave, each of our branches convened their representative committees, this time chaired by our branch presidents, to gather the most current and concrete opinions. They received the latest thoughts and requests from our workplace union representatives. Following these meetings from August 13th to 22nd, we convened our Branch Presidents' Council in Ankara on Monday, August 25th. Each branch president on our council expressed their opinions individually. We also evaluated the results of the survey and research I've described with them. Look, there's no union in the world, let alone in our country, that operates with such meticulousness and executes these processes so effectively. That's why I call this process a unique example of union democracy..”

“My dear fellows, some of you came from your workplaces this morning, while others stayed home. We will meet and discuss our contract more frequently in the future, especially as negotiations begin. I don't want to take up any more of your time and would like to share our draft with you and the public through the press representatives here..”

In our proposed two-year 2025-2027 draft Türk Metal - MESS Group Collective Bargaining Agreement, our raise request for the first six months consists of a percentage increase + an equal flat -rate wage increase formula.

• We are requesting a 20% increase in the hourly wages of our members covered by the agreement, effective September 1, 2025, as of August 31, 2025, for the first six months. Following the implementation of this increase, we are requesting an additional 35 lira increase in the hourly wages of all our members covered by the MESS Group Collective Bargaining Agreement for the first six months. Thus, as a result of these two increases, we are requesting an average 35.2% increase in the hourly wages of our members covered by the MESS Group Collective Bargaining Agreement for the first six months.
• For the second six months of our collective bargaining agreement, hourly wages will be increased by the 6-month inflation rate, and for the third six months, We are requesting hourly wage increases for the first six months of the year, with a +3 percentage point increase based on the six-month inflation rate, and for the fourth and final six months, with a further increase based on inflation.
• We are requesting a 65% annual increase for social benefits, such as Feast of Ramadan, education assistance, and heating fuel assistance, as part of our contract. Unlike our other social benefits, we are requesting an 80% annual increase for the feast of sacrifice benefit.
• Including these increases for social benefits, the total increase requested for the first six months of our proposed plan brings the average to 38.97%.
• We are requesting a +5 percentage point increase based on annual inflation for all these benefits in their second year.

“In addition to our requests for these benefits for our existing acquired rights, I would also like to share with you the new provisions we will be requesting in our proposed plan.”

• In our proposed plan, we are requesting that the Complementary Health Insurance program, one of the greatest achievements in union history and implemented through the struggle of our Türk Metal, also apply to the spouses of our members.
• We are requesting a 200% increase in the wages of our members working on our national holidays, religious holidays, and the eve of religious feasts.
• We demand an increase in night work compensation to 20%.
• And finally, we demand one day of paid companion leave for our members' immediate family members who are receiving inpatient treatment.

“My valued workers, my esteemed colleagues, this draft, the result of months of meticulous work, is entrusted to you, the 140,722 Türk Metal members working at MESS workplaces, from this moment on. As always, you are our greatest support and strength in this endeavor. As I said at the beginning of my speech, this proposal is the product of day and night work; we have dedicated all our time for months to it. We have worked on it down to the smallest detail, and as a result, we have prepared a draft that considers every possibility, takes everything into account, and is grounded..”

“Never forget this: the important thing is not to ask for it; the important thing is to get the best we can. As always, with our unwavering commitment, we will sign the best contract in this sector. Let none of you doubt this. As members of the Turkish Metalworkers’ Union, we will unite even more tightly, close our ranks even tighter, and strive to achieve the best and the most beautiful in this period, as we have always done.

In closing, I would like to emphasize this: The results of all negotiations and the progress we have made during the collective bargaining process will be communicated to you instantly, both at our workplaces by our branch presidents and representatives and via social media.

I ask for your strong support, and I ask that you keep an eye on us, especially on this matter. I thank you for listening patiently to me and, as always, for making your support for our union felt. I hope the collective bargaining process will be beneficial for our members, our workplaces, and our country, which we call our greatest love..”