İzmir railway workers reach collective agreement after one-month strike
İZMİR
The workers of a commuter rail system connecting the western province of İzmir’s suburban area to its metropolitan area, İZBAN, have consented to agreement after their one-month strike was postponed with a presidential decree.
“The collective labor agreement negotiations with the İzmir Metro Inc. Co. have been concluded by mutual consent,” İzmir Mayor Aziz Kocaoğlu said on his Twitter account on Jan. 10.
“We hope this 25 percent wage rise will be beneficial for the workers,” he added.
İZBAN officials and Railway Workers Union of Turkey’s (Demiryol-İş) İzmir branch came to a mutual understanding following a series of Collective Labor Agreement (TİS) meetings.
According to the agreement, 449 workers will get a 25 percent wage rise, amounting to an increase of 700 Turkish Liras (approximately $129) in their monthly salaries.
The workers’ strike was launched after Demiryol-İş’s İzmir branch asked İZBAN for a 28 percent pay rise as part of TİS meetings.
When İZBAN refused the union’s demand, 343 workers went on strike on Dec. 10, 2018.
Both parties had failed to reach a settlement regarding the wage rise over a one-month period.
On Jan. 8, the Turkish Presidency issued a decree postponing the strike for 60 days.
Following the decree, banners put up by workers reading “This workplace is on strike” on İZBAN workplaces were removed by the union members and the workers were called back to duty.
The cancelled train services began to operate after workers returned to work on Jan. 8.
