Workers at Mersin International Port in Turkey have entered the 103rd day of their strike, vowing to continue their struggle until all dismissed workers are reinstated.
A total of 180 workers, employed by Mersin International Port Management (MIP) and its subcontractor Özgüneş Transport, were dismissed after joining the TÜMTİS (Union of Motor Vehicle Workers of Turkey). The workers were dismissed were due to their union membership, which constitutes a clear attack on their trade union rights.
Marking over three months of resistance, workers gathered with their families at the port and marched to the MIP headquarters, repeating their demand: reinstatement with full union recognition.
Union representatives explained that the workers had legally organised with TÜMTİS and won a lengthy legal battle (lasting nearly three years) to secure union recognition. However, just as negotiations began, the employer responded by dismissing the workers in an attempt to block unionisation.
The workers’ demands are clear:
- Immediate reinstatement of all 180 dismissed workers
- Recognition of their union rights
- Compensation for lost wages and entitlements
Despite repeated appeals, the employer has so far refused to engage with the workers’ demands. The strikers remain determined, stating they will continue their resistance “until we win back our jobs, our rights, and our dignity.”
The Mersin port workers’ struggle continues as a powerful example of resistance against union-busting and precarious labour conditions.