ISTANBUL
“Demands and expectations” of workers embroiled in a strike which has hit Turkey’s automotive industry can be discussed while they return to work, Turkish Industry Minister Fikri Isik has said.
He has called on thousands of Turkish autoworkers to end their industrial action to prevent the "negative effects" on the auto industry, which he described as one of the country's most powerful sectors.
“My call is for autoworkers’ production to restart as soon as possible,” Isik told reporters Thursday at the first day of the Istanbul Austoshow 2015.
“Demands and expectations between employees and employers can be negotiated while production is going on,” he added.
Strikes, which began late last week, have hit a Renault factory, Tofas, Fiat’s affiliate company factory and the automobile supplier Mako. Workers are angry over salaries and want the abolition of the Turkish Metal Industries Employers’ Association. They are also unhappy with their trade union representation.
At Ford Otosan factories, a joint venture of Koc Holding and Ford, workers continued with their strike Thursday, with many chanting slogans against the company.
Ford Otosan had warned Wednesday that its car production would be affected because suppliers located in Turkey’s Bursa province had been unable to send in their vehicle parts. The company added that the strikes had made production impossible at the Golcuk and Yenikoy factories.
Workers at Ford Otosan demand an increase in their wages. They chanted slogans against the Turk Metal Labor Union and accused it of signing controversial agreements. They demanded the union's withdrawal from their factories and a readjustment in the labor agreement.
Describing the incidents as a “reaction against the union,” the Turkish industry minister claimed that the labor body was not a party to the dispute.
Meanwhile, staff at a Turkish automobile suppliers announced Thursday that they would return to work.
Employees at Coskunoz in the western province of Bursa returned to work after talks between workers and the company management.
‘Renault may reconsider investments’
A senior Renault official warned Thursday that the automobile company might reconsider its investment plans in Turkey if recent strikes became persistent.
Jean-Christophe Kugler, Renault’s senior vice president and chairman of the Eurasia region, said at the Istanbul Autoshow 2015 that the workers’ strike at the OYAK Renault's Bursa factory was a threat to Renault's long-term investment plans in Turkey.
“This is a country where we can find key competences. You can see that we rely on Turkish people in our operations. We bet on Turkey for a long time and we are happy with it. But, if we see instability coming, then we will have to analyze our plans,” Kugler warned.
“We rely on the supplier base of Turkish people; not only the plant but all elements in the works. If these cause problems in the supply [chain of the] overseas markets, then we will reconsider the way we are investing,” he added.
Isik also said in Istanbul that the strike would hit Turkey’s production and exports, saying it would create a risk of global players turning to other countries for production.
“This will cause a decrease in production, a loss in employment and exports. It will also bring a disadvantage to the auto sector,” the minister said.
‘Turkey’s auto brand’
Earlier, Isik reiterated the importance of Turkey producing its own auto brand.
“Our target is Turkey to produce a brand of range-extended electric cars. We’ve made important work on this. We will continue doing it."
Isik did not give any detail about when production would start.
Creating a national car brand in Turkey was first announced in 2011 and attracted the attention of many national and international companies.
Stating that they are making important investments in research and development in the auto sector, he said: "We plan to start construction of an automotive center of excellence at the start of 2016."
Turkey, which "ranks 17th in the global automobile production [market]", manufactured one out of every 77 motor vehicles in the world in 2014, according to figures from the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
The country manufactured 1.17 million cars last year, an increase of 45,000 from 2013.
Over 250 companies work in the sector in Turkey, according to the country's Economy Ministry.
