Turkish cabinet postpones strike at Akbank by 60 days

ISTANBUL

A strike at Turkey’s Akbank has been postponed by 60 days by the Turkish cabinet on March 20, the government has said in the Official Gazette.

The government said the strike, arising from disagreements over employment conditions of the bank during the renewal of contract terms, was “of a nature that would harm economic and financial stability.”

The Bank and Insurance Employees Union (BANKSIS) and Akbank said last month that the negotiations between the union and the lender management over the collective agreement did not end with an agreement. The trade union had declared that the strike decision would be put in action.

BANKSIS has then decided on a strike action. 

“This decision has been postponed for 60 days by the Council of Ministers Decision dated March 20, 2017 and numbered 2017/10038, since it has been deemed contrary to economic and financial stability, according to the Article 63 of the Law Numbered 6356,” said the bank in a statement late on March 20.

If an agreement cannot be reached during this period, the dispute will be resolved and the process will be finalized by the Collective Bargaining Agreement High Arbitration Board upon the application of one of the parties, the statement said.