Turkish health & care union activists and leaders from the Sağlık union came together this month (21-22 May) in Kemer (Türkiye) for a two-day training focused on smart and strategic approaches to collective bargaining and organising.
The workshop took place in the framework of the EU-funded “BARSERVICE: Building bargaining capacity in Europe Services sector” project.
Understanding the Power of Organising and Bargaining
The training opened with foundational discussions on organising. Participants explored firstly the ongoing process of building collective power, secondly how to promote participation and finally how to engage members in democratic decision-making. They then reflected on their own organising journeys, identifying opportunities to deepen their impact through union-led collective bargaining.
This hands-on part was followed by a presentation of the Barservice research and findings for the social care sector in Turkey (Professor Ceyhun Güler from Dokuz Eylül University, Turkey).
The legal framework for collective bargaining in Turkey’s health and care sector was examined in detail, highlighting both the opportunities and constraints facing unions. In particular, participants discussed how legal provisions in Turkey compare with EU standards and how this gap might be used to press for improvements.
Smart Bargaining in Practice
Participants explored how bargaining can go beyond wage demands to address broader social and equity-based issues, drawing inspiration from recent wins such as the Nike Türkiye campaign and international case studies from Colombia, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and the US. These examples demonstrated how unions around the world are securing not just better pay but structural changes in staffing, consultation rights, gender equity and mental health support.
In small group activities, participants mapped the collective bargaining cycle: preparation, claims, negotiation, action, finalisation and implementation. They then identified concrete ways to embed organising at every stage. These sessions highlighted how internal mobilisation, strategic planning and clear demands can transform bargaining into a powerful tool for union growth and workers’ bargaining power.
From Theory to Action
A key highlight of the second day was the scenario-based exercises, where participants tackled real-world bargaining challenges. From uniting different categories of workers to managing expectations without the legal right to strike, groups strategised, planned and role-played responses. These practical simulations helped bridge theory and practice, reinforcing the link between bargaining success and effective worker involvement. By combining legal knowledge, strategic bargaining, and organising principles, participants are now better equipped to fight for meaningful change in their workplaces.
Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive. Many expressed a deeper understanding of the collective bargaining process and a renewed sense of confidence of how to apply this sistematically.
Others highlighted the urgency of addressing neglected sectors such as home care and tackling gender inequalities within the workforce.
If you want to know more about our organising and capacity building work, please see our organising page.
For more information on the project please contact: Andoni Iriondo, Project coordinator for organising and collective bargaining.
For more information on the research-side of this project please visit CELSI.
This project is supported by the European Commission.