Cement agreement reached in Turkey, strike averted

The ICEM Turkish affiliate ÇIMSE-İş, the Cement, Ceramics, Pottery and Glass Industry Workers’ Union, announced the successful conclusion of a sector-wide labour agreement in the cement industry for 5,800 workers at 45 cement plants.

The new two-year collective agreement will run from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012 and averts a strike called by the union’s presidential committee on 2 June. The agreement calls for a 7% increase in salaries plus an added YTL 25, as well as an increase in social benefits ranging from 7.6% to 27.81%. ÇIMSE-İş also managed to achieve a 100% extra payment for work performed on weekends.

The union negotiated the agreement with the Cement Industry Employers’ Federation (CEIS) for which it had been bargaining with since 7 January.

ÇIMSE-İş also reported that it had concluded talks in the ceramics industry, which it had been negotiating with the Soil Industry Employers’ Association of Turkey. The employers grouping covers such Turkish companies as Eczacıbaşı Yapı Gereçleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, Vitra Karo Sanayi AŞ, Matel Hammadde (Serel Seramik) Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, Tütk Ytong Sanayi AŞ, Ege Seramik Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, and Ege Vitrifiye Sağlık Gereçleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ.

This agreement covers 3,200 workers and is union members and is also valid from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2012. Wages will increase by 7% with an added YTL 30, while social benefit increases will average about 20%.

“The ICEM salutes the achievement of ÇIMSE-İş,” said General Secretary Manfred Warda. “After a severe period in the materials industries brought on by the financial crisis, these two sector-wide agreements bring important improvements to Turkish workers and serve as excellent examples of mature industrial relations and social dialogue.”
(20 June 2011)