Strike at Turkey’s largest petrochemical company ends

On May 28, nearly 1,000 workers of the petrochemical producer in the province of Izmir, in western Turkey, went on strike, occupying the facility for better work conditions. 

The labor action came amid a line of strikes in the car production industry. 

“We agreed on the labor contract. Workers received a 6 percent pay raise and a bonus wage on Ramadan and the sacrifice feasts [Eid el-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice]. We ended our strike after the agreement. We will announce details of the agreement on Tuesday,” said Ahmet Oktay, branch chairman of the Petrol-Iş Workers Union. Petkim is a leading petrochemical company of Turkey founded in 1965.

The main plant complex is located in Izmit, about an hour away from Istanbul. In 1985, a second complex was constructed in the western city of Izmir.

The company produces petrochemicals for use in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, other consumer and industrial products.

Petkim’s first quarter profits in 2015 increased by 20 percent - up 44.4 million Turkish Liras ($16.7 million) compared to the same quarter last year.

The company’s first quarter revenue this year stood at 937 million liras (more than $350 million).