High Rate Raise Proposal from Birleşik Metal-İş to MESS: 58.5% Increase Demanded for the First 6 Months

ANKARA - Birleşik Metal-İş, one of the largest unions in the metal industry, has prepared a historic proposal for the upcoming 2025-2027 Group Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Turkish Metal Industrialists' Union (MESS). Özkan Atar, President of the union, announced a wage increase demand of 58.5 percent for the first six months, which forms the basis of their proposal. The union explained that this demand was determined in a scientific and transparent process with the opinions and suggestions of hundreds of thousands of metal workers.

In his speech before announcing their proposals, Özkan Atar stated that the real wages of metal workers have been steadily declining and living conditions have become increasingly harsh. Atar emphasized that the official inflation figures announced by TurkStat do not reflect the reality and that workers have become unable to meet even their basic needs. Based on the union's own research, Atar pointed out that the average metal worker's wage is almost half of the poverty line, and that exorbitant rent increases, especially in big cities, are driving workers into debt.

Demands on Wages and Social Rights

The proposal to be submitted by United Metal-İş to MESS consists of two main headings: wage increases and social rights.

Wage Increase Proposals:

• In the first instance, raise the wages of workers whose hourly wage is below 170 TL to 170 TL (corresponding to a monthly net wage of 31,250 TL).

• Following this improvement, all workers' hourly wages were increased by 15 percent.

• On top of the 15 percent increase, an additional increase of 100 TL.

With the combination of these three items, the total wage increase requested for the first six months was set at 58.5 percent. The union argued that with this raise, the wage of an average metal worker will rise to 84,666 TL net including bonuses and tax exemptions, which is a humane wage at the minimum subsistence level.

The following demands were made for other periods:

• For the second six months: A raise by adding half of the inflation rate to the inflation rate because the official inflation rate does not reflect reality.

• For the following periods: Increasing wages with similar formulas.

Request for a 190 percent increase in social benefits

The union is demanding significant increases in social benefits as well as wages. While 190 percent increase was offered for the social benefits in the "holiday, vacation and fuel" package, a 150 percent increase was requested for other social benefits. Emphasizing that the current social benefits have become meaningless in today's economic conditions, the union stated that, for example, the monthly child allowance remains at a funny figure of 101 TL, and that the holiday and leave money cannot cover any expenses.

New Articles Requested to be Added to the Agreement

In addition to improving existing rights, United Metal-İş also included clauses in the draft contract that will bring new gains to workers:

• The spouse and children of the worker can also benefit from complementary health insurance.

• Employees are paid 200 percent higher wages on national and religious holidays.

• Increase night work compensation to 20 percent.

• In cases where first-degree relatives receive inpatient treatment, paid companion leave.

• Nursery allowance, parental leave and gender equality measures.

• Regulations on bank promotions and premium payments.

Birleşik Metal-İş General President Özkan Atar called on all metal workers to unite in this just struggle and expressed his belief that they will sign the best contract.