Romanian Chemical and Petrochemical Workers Union Visited Petrol-İş: International Support for Gübretaş Strike!

KOCAELİ - The delegation of the Romanian Chemical and Petrochemical Workers Union (Lazar EDELEANU) was the guest of Petrol-İş Union in Turkey between September 16-19. During the three-day comprehensive visit, the Romanian delegation met with the Petrol-İş Central Management, visited the Gübretaş factory, which has been on strike for days, to send a message of international solidarity, and met with workers at the Tüpraş İzmit Refinery.

Information and Experience Sharing at Headquarters, Cooperation Agreement

Petre Tancau, President of the Romanian Chemical and Petrochemical Workers Union, and Vice Presidents Auraş Stanila, Corneliu Munteanu and Daniel Vlaicu visited Petrol-İş Headquarters on September 17, 2025. The Romanian delegation met with Petrol-İş General President Süleyman Akyüz, General Secretary Ahmet Baranlı, General Financial Secretary Mehmet Kaya, General Organizing and Training Secretary Niyazi Recepkethüda and General Management Secretary Ali Haluk Koşar and exchanged information and experiences on general developments in their country, working life and union struggle.

Lazar Edeleanu Union, which is organized in refinery, chemical and fertilizer plants, gave information about the number of employees in these sectors, unionization rates, and the difficulties encountered in organizing and collective bargaining. Petrol-İş management, on the other hand, shared their activities and experiences especially in these sectors with the Romanian guests. At the end of the meeting, an important agreement was signed between the two unions that will reinforce international cooperation.

International Solidarity Visit to Gübretaş Strike

On September 18, 2025, the second day of the Romanian delegation's visit, the most remarkable stop of the program was the Gübretaş factory in Kocaeli, where Petrol-İş Union has been on strike for days. During the strike visit, which was attended by Petrol-İş Central Management General President Süleyman Akyüz, General Financial Secretary Mehmet Kaya, General Organizing and Training Secretary Niyazi Recepkethüda, General Management Secretary Ali Haluk Koşar, Petrol-İş Kocaeli Branch President Nesimi Yetişoğlu and branch executives, the presidents and branch presidents of both unions addressed the striking workers.

The speakers underlined that the honorable struggle for the rights of Gübretaş workers continues courageously under difficult conditions without giving up and without taking a step back. Petrol-İş President Süleyman Akyüz and Petre Tancau, President of the Romanian Chemical and Petrochemical Union, emphasized that the struggle will continue until Gübretaş workers are paid for their hard work. It was stated that workers' demand for a livable wage in a high inflation environment is their most legitimate right and that they are always open to a fair agreement. The visit once again demonstrated the importance of international and regional solidarity in the workers' struggle.

Tüpraş Izmit Refinery Visit

The delegation of the Romanian Trade Union visited Tüpraş İzmit Refinery together with Petrol-İş Headquarters Management and Kocaeli Branch Management. At the meeting attended by Tüpraş Human Resources Director Çağlar Taşkın, Tüpraş İzmit Refinery Manager Arda Yıldırım and various Tüpraş executives, a presentation was made about the history of Tüpraş, its activities and especially its projects in the field of green transformation in energy and renewable energy. The delegation then toured the refinery and ended their visit by chatting with the workers at the workplace representation office.

It was stated that the relations between Petrol-İş and the Romanian Lazar EDELEANU Trade Union will be maintained within the framework of the workplaces in the common business lines.