The CBA negotiation process we carried out on behalf of approximately 6,000 members at Aras Kargo, owned by Austrian Post, has been successfully concluded.
An agreement was reached in the 4th Term Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between our union and Aras Kargo. With this agreement, a net base wage increase of 47% was secured, along with significant improvements in social benefits.
Conducted together with our members and workplace representatives, the CBA was signed with the approval of nearly all our workplace representatives in its final stage. The key gains achieved through this agreement are as follows:
- Wages: A net base wage increase of 47% for 2025 and CPI + 2% for 2026 has been secured. If the minimum wage increase is higher in the second year, an additional 2 percentage points will be added to the minimum wage increase. If the minimum wage is increased during the year, wages and social benefits will also be raised in proportion to the increase in the minimum wage.
- Bonus Payments: Bonuses will be equivalent to 60 days of wages in the first year and 75 days in the second year. Additionally, a one-time extra payment equal to 10 days of wages will be made to unionized workers.
- Seniority Pay: Existing seniority pay rates will be increased by 63%.
- Social Benefits & Allowance: Benefits such as marriage, childbirth, funeral, education and fuel allowance will be increased by 45%.
- Overtime Pay: Overtime work will be paid at a 60% premium, and work on weekly rest days will be paid at a 100% premium.
- Per Diems for Line Drivers: Per diem payments for line drivers will be increased by 60%.
- Bank Promotions: A net 21,000 TL bank promotion will be provided to unionized workers.
- Adjustments to Social Benefits: All social benefits will increase in line with wage increases throughout the agreement period.
The 4th Term Collective Bargaining Agreement with Aras Kargo was signed during a meeting held on February 7, 2025.
At the meeting, our union was represented by President Kenan Öztürk, General Secretary Muharrem Yıldırım, General Financial Secretary Seyfi Erez, General Education Secretary Ersin Türkmen, Union Lawyer Oktay Durmaz, and CBA Specialist İlknur Avınca.
The employer was represented by General Manager Utku Can Ayyarkın, Financial Affairs Coordinator Barbara Hagen, Deputy General Manager of Human Resources Selda Özacar, Deputy General Manager of Operations Onur Aytekin, Total Rewards Manager Füsun Güzel, Legal Counsel Lawyer Yiğitcan Bozoğlu, and Lawyer Leyla Albaş.
We Conducted the CBA Process Together with Our Members
As in every term, we conducted the CBA process together with our members. We ensured the participation of workplace representatives in the negotiations and involved our members at every stage, from the preparation of the draft agreement to its signing. We kept our members informed about the negotiations at all stages. In the final stage, we held meetings across Turkey, where we informed workplace representatives—and, where possible, members—about the employer’s final offer. With the approval of nearly all workplace representatives, we decided to sign the agreement.
Despite the unfair competition from non-unionized cargo companies that exploit workers by paying low wages and making them work 10-12 hours a day without even paying overtime, and despite the pressure such companies put on our unionized workplaces, we successfully signed a CBA without any loss of rights for our members.
The collective bargaining process continues at UPS Cargo, DHL Express, local warehouses, and vehicle inspection workplaces, where we are also organized.
With the successful CBA signed at Aras Kargo, one of the largest workplaces in the cargo sector, our union is not only improving the working conditions of Aras Kargo workers but also pushing non-unionized workplaces to offer better wages and benefits. In an attempt to prevent unionization, non-unionized cargo employers are now forced to provide higher wage increases, bonuses, and other social benefits to their workers.
Our union calls on all cargo workers in non-unionized workplaces to join us in organizing, ensuring that they receive their full rights and the protections of a collective bargaining agreement.
We wish for the signed CBA to bring prosperity to all our members, especially the workers of Aras Kargo.
TÜMTİS EXECUTIVE BOARD
