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Istanbul may face a major public transportation disruption on Thursday, May 22, as 3,041 private bus drivers contracted by the Istanbul's public transportation authority (IETT) plan to halt operations.
The drivers say they have not received payments for nearly five months, with outstanding dues exceeding ₺5 billion (approximately $128 million).
According to Murat Kilinc, president of the Transporters Confederation, numerous transportation cooperatives and companies that provide contracted services to IETT have not been compensated for their work, despite existing agreements.
As a result, many bus owners are now unable to purchase fuel, pay driver salaries, or service their bank loans.
Some vehicles are reportedly running on quarter tanks of diesel, raising the risk of breakdowns mid-route and further exacerbating the city’s transport woes.
In meetings with IETT officials, transportation representatives claim their demands have been ignored and that they have faced pressure to remain silent. According to operators, they were told, “We have no money. If you halt operations, we’ll terminate your contracts.”
Drivers and company owners describe these statements as a form of institutional intimidation or mobbing.
Transportation companies say they feel forced to make the crisis public, emphasizing that they have no other option left after months of unsuccessful negotiations.
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