Turkish unions are stepping into the climate struggle

Turgut Dedeoğlu, Disk Basin-Iş

Trade union for journalists, publishing and printing house workers

Why is the climate transition a union issue?

“The climate crisis will affect workers the most, and we represent the workers. In addition, countries like ours are particularly vulnerable to the impacts, such as extreme heat.

Today’s politics primarily benefit those who hold capital. What we need is a green transition that improves the lives of ordinary people. Pursuing this must be the union’s mission.”

What can you do as a trade union to increase the chances of a just green transition?

“Türkiye is a developing country. So whenever we bring up environmental issues, we are met with ‘Why do you oppose development?’. We need to communicate that this transition is fundamentally about securing jobs and protecting workers’ health.

While people in Türkiye are well aware of the climate crisis, they do not yet know what a ‘just transition’ looks like. As a union, we can help our members familiarize themselves with this concept so they can participate in how their workplaces evolve. Our own sector, the printing industry, will be heavily impacted by this transition. To get a clearer picture of the changes underway, we are currently preparing a report.

Furthermore, those of us who are journalists can directly report on the climate crisis; our roles is to inform the public. For instance, we can draw attention to laborers forced to work under extreme heat, which is becoming increasingly common. Being out in the field so much, we as media workers are also affected by this.”

Have you gained any new ideas by participating in this project on green transition for unions?

“Yes. It is notoriously difficult for trade unions to put any issue on the agenda in Türkiye. However, those of us involved in this collaboration can now mobilize together ahead of the COP climate summit in our country later this year. There, we will stand up for workers’ rights to a safe and democratic transition.”

Dilek Yüksel, Tümka-Iş

Trade union for paper and pulp industry workers

Why is the climate transition a union issue?

“Workers in Türkiye have so far not been allowed to participate in discussions about the transition. We must push to be involved in shaping this change within our sectors and workplaces.”

What can you as a trade union do to increase the chances of a just green transition?

“Our primary task is to ensure that people remain employed even after the transition. In Türkiye, workers who lose their jobs risk falling below the starvation line. As a union, we must also monitor that the green transition is authentically ‘green’. For example, we need to track the chemicals used in material recycling. Workers’ health must be a priority when new working methods are introduced.”

Have you gained any new ideas by participating in this project on green transition for trade unions?

“It is thanks to this collaboration that the green transition has become a priority on our agenda. Now, we—trade unions, environmental organizations, and researchers—are working together on an initiative we call ‘the people’s climate action’. We will demand a just transition at the Peoples’ Climate Summit, which will be organized as an alternative to COP31 to be held in Türkiye later this year.”

The Palme Center’s collaboration with trade unions in Türkiye for a just green transition is financed with support from the EU.