The strike at Novamed Drugs Factory in the Free Trade Zone of Antalya that was led by 83 workers, among them 80 women, for 447 days was ended with a victory. The Novamed strike had started with the workers` demands for membership in the union and for a collective agreement when their boss did not want to sit down at the same table with the union Petrol-Is where the workers are organised. The resistance that was mainly led by female workers was a great example for the solidarity among women organisations, different unions and mass organisations. According to the collective agreement of this week between the trade union Petrol-Is and the boss of Novamed in the name of 316 workers, the salary will be increased for 5% in the first year, 4% in the second and third year and some achievements were reached concerning social rights. The collective agreement was signed on December 18. It was decided that the striking workers will start working on January 2, 2008.
The Novamed strike is particular as it was the first strike realised in the Free Trade Zones, the majority of the strikers were women and the strike ended with a victory.