The ongoing strikes highlight the challenges workers face in securing fair wages and working conditions. In both cities, 3500km apart, rubbish piled up on the roadsides, and the workers were targeted by the local authority and police for exercising their legal right to strike. Propaganda against the workers was rife, with mainstream media outlets and council leadership blaming workers for the authority’s failure.
Almost 23,000 municipal workers in Izmir, Turkey, went on strike on 29 May 2025. The strike ended on its 7th day and was led by the Genel-İş union, which is linked to DISK. Workers reported being harassed and targeted by public figures and the local authority. Initially, their demand was for a 60% wage increase and equal pay for equal work, rejecting the municipality’s offer of a 29.16% raise. Negotiations between the union and the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality continued for several months. The union is demanding monthly salaries ranging from 82,000 to 94,000 Turkish Liras, while the municipality has proposed a range of 60,000 to 76,000 liras. Mayor Cemil Tugay claimed that workers’ pay is over 60,000 but worker payslips shared by workers with journalists show that the pay is approx 37,000. The final collective bargaining agreement accepted a 30% increase in wages, which raised the daily wages from 1160 to 1460, and from July onwards there will be a 17% inflation plus a 2% welfare increase which will take daily wages to 1750 tl. Workers had sought equal pay for equal work (1750 tl) backdated to January – which was rejected. This means some workers will still be paid more than others post-September 2025 when IZDOGA workers receive their inflationary increase.
Ever since they went on strike, the workers faced harassment and bullying. But despite this, they filled public squares and remained steadfast in their fight for equal pay for equal work. They demanded that they be paid the same pay for the same work. The municipality was paying staff different rates depending on the contracted company they worked for. Many of the workers are unhappy with the agreement, yet they report pride in coming together and demonstrating the strength and impact of organised workers. Recognising that attacks on their rights will continue and that they need to continue to organise for better working conditions and rights.
If this all seems familiar, it’s because closer to home here in Birmingham our very own bin workers are fighting a similar battle. In Birmingham, more than 350 bin workers, represented by the Unite union, have been on strike since 11 March 2025. The strike, which began with walkouts in January, escalated due to disputes over pay cuts and the elimination of the Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles. The workers argue that the removal of these roles would result in significant pay reductions. The average salary for bin workers in Birmingham ranges from £24,000 to £30,000 per year, while WRCOs earn between £26,409 and £32,654. Negotiations have been fraught with difficulties, with the Unite union accusing the government and city council of blocking offers to end the dispute. The council has proposed a revised pay offer, but this has been watered down by government commissioners and the council leader. The strike continues.
That the direction of travel with workers’ rights in the UK is not dissimilar to that of workers in Turkey is a message that SPOT has always championed. The commonality of experience for workers in the UK and in Turkey, whose rights are trampled on and denied is a fact that all workers and union organisers will be aware of.
Rarely do we give our refuse workers and council workers the recognition they deserve. Recent months have shown us that we must value our public sector workers and fight for their rights to fair pay. The public stereotype of refuse workers as low skill and low value is juxtaposed against the critical role that they play in our communities and for protecting public health. Quickly we have seen in recent months what happens when our bins don’t get collected, when rubbish doesn’t get transported, sorted, recycled.
SPOT stands in solidarity with Izmir’s municipality workers and Birmingham’s bin workers who have exercised their biggest strength, the right to remove their labour if they are not paid a fair wage. It is unlikely that this will be the last time we hear about the resistance of municipality workers in Izmir. Indeed we believe there is mutual learning to share and an opportunity to strengthen international solidarity.
