Strike by Turkish tyre workers ends with real wage losses

These four tyre factories include two Goodyear plants in Izmit and Adapazari, and one Bridgestone and one Pirelli plant, both located in Izmit. Izmit and Adapazari are important industrial and working class centres, with a large oil refinery and major paper, cement and car factories. The cities are located in northwest Turkey.

There are 1,300 direct workers at Goodyear, 1,500 at Bridgestone, and 1,200 at Pirelli.

According to the newly signed two-year contract between the union and representatives of the employers association, wages will increase 14 percent in 2008, and in 2009 wage increases will be equal to the official inflation rate. All other earnings-related social benefits will also increase by the official inflation rate over the duration of the labour agreement.

Lastik-Is and representatives of the employers association who jointly represent the tyre industry employers in talks had been negotiating a new industry-wide labour agreement since September 2007.

Before the strike Lastik-Is raised the demand for a 12 percent wage increase for the first six-month period and a rise equivalent to the official rate of inflation plus one point for every six-month period thereafter. In response, the tyre companies offered wage and social benefit hikes equal to the official inflation rate.

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