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Türkiye's third-largest metropolis Izmir is grappling with growing piles of garbage as hundreds of municipal workers continue a strike over unpaid wages, leaving key public services paralyzed and residents frustrated.
The walkout began on June 18, with 1,763 workers from Buca municipality halting work to demand overdue salaries and regular payment guarantees. Streets in several neighborhoods have been overwhelmed by uncollected trash and foul smells.
The unrest follows a previous week-long protest involving employees from city-owned firms Izelman, Izenerji, and Egesehir, which had already disrupted transport and sanitation across the city. After a brief resolution, workers claim mass layoffs were initiated, reigniting anger.
“We had a meeting with the mayor yesterday and expressed our concerns,” said Ayca Pektas, a striking worker. “We will not resume duties until we receive clear commitments about past and future payments.”
The strike has begun spreading beyond Buca. In Karabaglar district, around 900 workers also staged a partial strike on Friday over similar grievances.
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