Cooperative Workers Storm Koop-Bank Headquarters Over Unpaid Wages

Led by the Cooperative Employees’ Union (Koop-Sen), dozens of workers gathered outside the bank’s headquarters in the morning, chanting slogans before entering the building and confronting the general manager and chairman of the board in their offices.

Protesters condemned the bank’s refusal to provide loans to cover salaries and maintain operations, saying management had made loan approval conditional on the removal of all employee benefits.

Reports indicate the bank declined to issue loans to the three cooperatives, citing a lack of approval from the Central Bank, and instead demanded severe concessions such as freezing salary increases, cancelling 13th salaries, and cutting holiday bonuses.

With the wage dispute unresolved, Koop-Sen has launched an indefinite strike at Koop Süt, Koop Binboğa and Koop Levazım.

Despite continued production and a strong market share at these cooperatives, workers blame the crisis on “political mismanagement and improper appointments.”