Tekgıda-İş Karacabey Branch 3rd Ordinary Congress Completed

Karacabey - The 3rd Ordinary Congress of the Karacabey Branch of the Tekgıda-İş Union ended on July 27, 2025 with high participation and messages of organized unity amidst the harsh economic conditions in the country and the increasing problems of the working class. The congress was attended by the union's headquarters executives, Türk-İş representatives, branch presidents of sister unions, employer representatives, delegates and many guests.

Opening Speeches and Emphasis on Unity

Mr. Ergün Çarıkçı, President of the Karacabey Branch of Tekgıda-İş Union, made the opening speech of the congress and drew attention to the devastating effects of privatization policies on workers and the structural damage caused by subcontracting. "The working class is disintegrating and being divided. Only organization and unity will save us," Çarıkçı, who received great applause from the hall with his words, emphasized the urgency of solidarity and organization.

General Organization Secretary Kemal Köse was elected as the chairman of the congress council, while General Financial Secretary Ali Bükülmez and General Education Secretary Engin Öz were the council members. Divan successfully managed the congress agenda.

Heavy Participation from Sister Unions and Stakeholders

There was a significant level of participation from different unions and sector stakeholders, which showed the support for Tekgıda-İş's message of unity. The following names were among the participants:

• Turkish Haber-İş Union Branch President Akif Kılıç

• Turkish Metal Union Osmangazi Branch President Erdinç Sazbiçer

• Belediye-Is Union Bursa Branch President Mehmet Bozdemir

• Sağlık-İş Union Bursa Branch President Selçuk Kar

• Tez-Koop-İş Union Branch President Bülent Çetin

• Turkish Metal Union Gemlik Branch President Erdoğan Aydın

• Kristal-Is Union Branch President Mehmet Dikmen

• Yol-Is Union Bursa Branch President Muharrem Yıldız

• Toleyis Bursa Branch President Yücel Köksal

• TÜMTİS Union Bursa Branch President Özdemir Aslan

Nestle Industrial Relations Director Cem Terim attended as the employer representative.

From Tekgıda-İş Union, General Secretary İbrahim Ören, General Financial Secretary Ali Bükülmez, General Organization Secretary Kemal Köse, General Education Secretary Engin Öz and Organization Specialist Adem Çınkır, as well as many branch presidents were present at the congress: Zeki Ertürk (Bursa), Mustafa Efe (Tuzla), Şefik Kayhan (Bandırma), Anıl Paspas (Turgutlu), Ertan İkizler (Mustafakemalpaşa), İbrahim Ökten (Balıkesir), Ali Solmaz (Ankara No. 1), Seyfullah Keskinoğlu (Gebze), Yavuz Uçkıran (Manisa), Erdoğan Yörüksoy (Eskişehir No. 2), Ömer Atabey (İzmir No. 7), Cengiz Çiçek (Eskişehir), Yılmaz Taşpınar (Eskişehir No. 3), Çelebi Karakökçek (Ankara Fırınlar), Turgay Koç (European Side), Aytaç Göçmen (Tekirdağ), Mustafa Yüksel (Rize Dosan), Ali Bostan (Kocaeli) and Latif Gökçay (İzmir No. 3).

Economic Distress and Effective Speeches Emphasizing Justice

Turk-İş 8th Regional President Ruhi Biçer and Tekgıda-İş Union executives made speeches evaluating the current economic picture, public contract processes and the problems facing the working class.

In his speech at the congress, Mr. İbrahim Ören, General Secretary of Tekgıda-İş Union, laid out in detail the severe economic situation in the country, the pressure on workers and the historical responsibility of the working class.

"They played with the economy of this country with irrational policies, saying interest was haram. But then they doubled the interest themselves. Can there be justice in a system that protects the rich with the taxes of the working people?" said Mr. Ören, emphasizing that the economic model implemented by the current political power completely devalues labor.

In the rest of his speech, he made the following statements: "In this country, TÜİK announces growth, but the bread on our table is shrinking. Minimum wage is below the hunger limit. The unionization rate is falling. Subcontracting still continues even in public institutions. Income inequality, the cost of living and the tax burden are all on the backs of laborers. We do not accept this system."

Ören also stated that labor cannot be protected in a structure that moves away from the rule of law, adding that the years-long duration of labor courts is a direct attack on trade union rights: "The law says it will be finalized in two months. But we have been seeking justice for our members who have been awaiting reinstatement for years. The delay of the law in this country has now become a deliberate instrument of repression."

At the end of his speech, Mr. Ören gave the following clear message to the hall: "This organization, this struggle is growing on your shoulders. We have no other choice. Either we will organize and get our rights or we will never get them again. Tekgıda-İş will always be a hope against this darkness." This speech, which received great applause from the hall, was remembered as one of the most striking parts of the congress.