Cabinet Imposes 60-day Suspension on Metal Workers’ Strike

The government has imposed a 60-day suspension on the strike action launched by the United Metalworkers’ Union following the failure to reach agreement in the collective bargaining with the Metal Industrialists’ Union of Turkey (MESS).

According to the decree published in the Official Gazette, on January 29, the Cabinet of Ministers took the decision to impose a 60-day suspension on the strike action of the United Metalworkers’ Union on the grounds that it was deemed “disruptive of national security”.

Industrial action in 10 cities

Following the failure to reach agreement in the collective bargaining between the United Metalworkers’ Union and MESS, workers went on strike at 20 factories in 10 cities yesterday.

With the participation of workers in 22 more factories on 19 February, the number of workers on strike would have reached 15 thousand. It had also been claimed that some work places where industrial action is in effect were to severe ties with MESS and sign independent agreements with the United Metalworkers’ Union.