Tensions Rise in Panelsan Strike: Union Alleges Truck Driven at Protesting Workers

Tensions are rising at Panelsan Çatı Cephe Sistemleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ, a manufacturer of roofing and facade panels located in the Polatlı Organized Industrial Zone near Ankara. The Birleşik Metal-İş union claims that on the fourth day of their protest outside the factory, an attempt was made to attack workers, with a truck allegedly driven towards union members and branch managers.

The union stated that the Ministry of Labor and Social Security certified their majority status for collective bargaining on May 8, 2026. However, Panelsan's management has challenged this decision in court. The union alleges that pressure on unionized workers has intensified recently, leading to the dismissal of two employees for union-related reasons. In response, the union began its protest in front of the factory on August 3.

Birleşik Metal-İş further claims that the company management has engaged in various obstructionist tactics since the protest began. They allege that on the second day of the protest, a service vehicle was driven towards protesting workers. The union asserts that the latest incident, where a truck was driven at members and managers, represents a dangerous escalation, and that the protest area has been physically blocked by company vehicles.

Panelsan is described as a significant industrial enterprise that supplies products for numerous housing projects, including public ones, and exports to over 30 countries. The company's Vice Chairman and General Manager, Recep Kaan Maşlak, also heads the Turkish Exporters Assembly's Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association. Panelsan is reportedly the only company in its sector traded on the stock exchange.

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ATTEMPT TO ATTACK OUR MEMBERS ON THE FOURTH DAY OF OUR RESISTANCE IN FRONT OF THE PANELSAN FACTORY! Panelsan Çatı Cephe Sistemleri Sanayi ve Ticaret AŞ; is an important industrial enterprise established in the Ankara Polatlı Organized Industrial Zone, producing roof and facade panels, supplying products to numerous mass housing projects in the country, primarily public projects (TOKİ, General Directorate of Highways and Emlak Konut), and exporting its products to more than 30 countries. #Panelsan, whose Vice Chairman of the Board and General Manager is Recep Kaan Maşlak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Ankara Iron and Non-Ferrous Metals Exporters' Association, is the only company in its sector traded on the stock exchange. With the authority determination sent to our union by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security on May 8, 2026, we legally registered that we have the necessary member majority to conclude a collective bargaining agreement in the workplace. However, the Panelsan management, by objecting to the authority determination and taking the process to the judiciary, has increased the pressures on our members in recent weeks and finally dismissed two of our members. In response to the union pressures, rights violations, and dismissals in the workplace, we started our resistance in front of the factory as of August 3, 2026. Since the first day of our ongoing resistance, the workplace management's harassment of our members and their efforts to obstruct our resistance have continued uninterrupted. On the second day of the resistance, a service vehicle was driven towards our members who objected to this situation. Today, these harassment and obstruction attempts have reached a much more dangerous dimension, with trucks being driven towards our members and branch managers, endangering their lives! Furthermore, our action has been practically hindered by pulling trucks and company vehicles to our resistance area. Our members who are struggling to return to their jobs and protect their union rights