May 2026 Wildcat Strike Report
In May 2026, wildcat strikes took place in various cities and sectors. According to data obtained from press and social media monitoring, there were actual strikes at 10 workplaces across 7 cities, including 2 workplaces in Kütahya and Edirne in the Mining and Quarrying sector, 2 workplaces in İzmir and Diyarbakır in the Health and Social Services (Public) sector, 3 workplaces in Izmir in the Local Administration Services (Public) sector, 1 workplace in Mersin in the Transportation sector, 1 workplace in Hatay in the Construction sector, and 1 workplace in Adana in the Municipal Services sector.
4 of the strikes took place in Izmir; one strike each occurred in Edirne, Kütahya, Diyarbakır, Mersin, Hatay, and Adana.
Strikes in one workplace in the Construction sector ended with achievements. Strikes in five workplaces ended without any achievements, including two in Health and Social Services (Public) and three in Local Administration Services (Public). Information could not be obtained regarding how and when strikes ended at three workplaces, including one in the Mining and Quarrying sector, one in the Transportation sector, and one in the Municipal Services sector. At one workplace in the Mining and Quarrying sector, the strike is still ongoing as of June 1, 2026.
1.Mining and Quarries
1.1.Egetaş Coal Mining Company
Start Date: 13.05.2026
End Date: No Information
City: Kütahya
Result: No Information
Mining workers employed at the Egetaş Coal Mining Company in the town of Tunçbilek, Tavşanlı district of Kütahya, went on a wildcat strike on May 13, 2026, due to occupational health and safety deficiencies, the non-payment of their wages since 2025, and the failure to pay the coal allowances stipulated in the three-year Collective Bargaining Agreement. There is no information available in the press or on social media regarding how or when the strike ended.
1.2.Özşen Madencilik
Start Date: 22.05.2026
City: Edirne
Status: In Progress
Mining workers at Özşen Mining in the Uzunköprü district of Edirne started a wildcat strike on May 22, 2026, demanding the payment of wages that have not been paid for three months, overtime pay that has not been paid for one year, and severance pay for retired miners, the reinstatement of laid-off workers, and the improvement of working conditions in accordance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations. The strike is continuing as of June 1, 2026.
2.Health and Social Services (Public)
2.1.Diyarbakır State Hospitals
Start Date: 04.05.2026
End Date: 04.05.2026
City: Diyarbakır
Result: No Goals Achieved
Following an attack on a resident doctor working in the Emergency Service of Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital in Diyarbakır on April 29, doctors who are members of Hekim-Sen staged a one-day wildcat strike at state hospitals across the city on May 4, 2026.
2.2.Ege University Hospital
Start Date: 06.05.2026
End Date: 07.05.2026
City: İzmir
Result: No Goals Achieved
Healthcare workers employed at Ege University Hospital in Izmir—who are members of Birlik Sağlık-Sen, Hep-Sen, Genel Sağlık-İş, Hekim Birliği, and Türk Sağlık-Sen—staged a wildcat strike on May 6–7, 2026, in protest of unpaid on-call fees and an increasing workload.
3.Local Administration Services (Public)
3.1.Karşıyaka Municipality
Start Date: 07.05.2026
End Date: 07.05.2026
City: İzmir
Result: No Goals Achieved
Public sector employees working at the Karşıyaka Municipality in İzmir staged a one-day wildcat strike on May 7, 2026, in protest of the suspension of collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the municipality’s administration and the İzmir No. 2 Branch of Tüm Bel-Sen.
3.2.Bayraklı Municipality
Start Date: 08.05.2026
End Date: 08.05.2026
City: İzmir
Result: No Goals Achieved
Public sector employees working in Bayraklı Municipality in Izmir staged a one-day wildcat strike on May 8, 2026, in response to the municipal administration’s latest offer in the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) negotiations between the municipality and the İzmir No. 2 Branch of Tüm Bel-Sen, which was below the current CBA and sought to impose legal limits.
3.3.Buca Municipality
Start Date: 08.05.2026
End Date: 08.05.2026
City: İzmir
Result: No Goals Achieved
Public sector workers employed by the Buca Municipality in İzmir, staged a one-day wildcat strike on May 8, 2026, because their social balance allowances and land compensation had not been paid for seven months.
4.Transportation
4.1.Mersin House Transportation Workers
Start Date: 10.05.2026
End Date: No Information
City: Mersin
Result: No Information
In Mersin, workers in the house-transportation sector went on a wildcat strike on May 10, 2026, after failing to reach an agreement with transportation companies during negotiations. There is no information available in the press or on social media regarding how or when the strike ended.
5.Construction
5.1.Hatay Kavşalı TOKİ Earthquake Housing Construction Site
Start Date: 10.05.2026
End Date: 16.05.2026
City: Hatay
Result: Goals Achieved
Construction workers at the Hatay Kavşalı TOKİ Earthquake Housing Construction Site, where the contractor is Söğütler İnşaat, started a wildcat strike on May 15, 2026, demanding payment of overdue wages. The strike ended on May 16 after an agreement was reached regarding the payment of wages.
6.Municipal Services
6.1.Yüreğir Municipality
Start Date: 21.05.2026
End Date: No Information
City: Adana
Result: No Information
Following the suspension of Mayor Ali Demirçalı and the subsequent resignation of Cleaning Services Director Mehmet Parmaksız at the Yüreğir Municipality in Adana, sanitation workers started a wildcat strike on May 21, 2026, demanding an end to the pressure and the reinstatement of Mehmet Parmaksız. There is no information available in the press or on social media regarding how or when the strike ended.