‘Millions for Mourinho, nothing for us’: Koc Holding’s Tupras faces worker unrest over low pay
Workers march outside the Tupras refinery in Kocaeli, Türkiye on April 21, 2025. (Photo via X/petrolis_merkez)
Tupras, Türkiye’s largest oil refinery company and a subsidiary of Koc Holding, is facing widespread labor unrest after collective bargaining negotiations failed, according to Turkish media reports.
Workers have launched strikes at multiple refinery sites, expressing frustration over stalled wage talks while drawing attention to the salary of high-profile football manager Jose Mourinho, who currently coaches Fenerbahce—an elite Turkish club chaired by Koc Holding board member Ali Koc.
During a protest held on April 25 outside Tupras’s main refinery in Kocaeli, opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) member Bulent Sari addressed the crowd, stating, “They (the Koc family) give to Fenerbahce without hesitation for Mourinho but refuse to give to Tupras workers. We will claim our rights through resistance.”
Mourinho, one of the most decorated managers in modern football, was hired by Fenerbahce for the 2024–2025 season with an annual salary of €10.5 million ($11.93 million), according to the club’s official figures.
Ali Koc, who assumed the presidency of Fenerbahce in 2018, has yet to secure a league title for the club, extending its championship drought to a record 10 years.
Labor actions continue across Tupras refineries
The Petroleum Workers’ Union (Petrol-Is), which represents approximately 3,500 employees at four Tupras refineries across Türkiye, launched coordinated protests and initiated daily two-hour work stoppages beginning April 21.
The industrial action followed the breakdown of 13 rounds of negotiations since early 2025, with the company offering a 28% wage increase—significantly below the official 2024 inflation rate of 44%.
During a demonstration on Tuesday at the Izmir refinery, local union leader Hasan Toptan addressed the recent developments, saying, “Monday’s meeting was intended to clear the path toward a new agreement, but no progress was made. The next session is scheduled for May 5. Until then, we are escalating to full-day protest actions.”
“Our struggle will continue beyond the negotiating table,” he added. “Tupras workers will persist in their actions until they obtain the compensation they rightfully deserve.”
