Reform Movements in Turkish Industrial Relations: Assessment of New Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining Law No:6356

Turkey has made significant progress toward more democratic labor relations last decade. These reforms are in progress with the Law No. 6356 come into force on November 7, 2012 by the Law on Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining. This law was established by combining Trade Unions Law No.2821 and Collective Bargaining, Strike and Lockout Law No.2822 (Both dated 1983). Now there is just one law for trade unions and collective bargaining and the law aims at to have operations in more democratic environment of all parties. But of course it has some adequate and inadequate effects. This study aims to evaluate the effects of the new Trade Unions and Collective Bargaining Law No.6356 on Turkish Industrial Relations System.The study has mainly structured in three sections. In the first part, the reasons of changing made by law on trade unions and collective bargaining (6356) are discussed. In the second part, the arrangements introduced by new law has examined in detail. In this section the arrangements have also examined within the framework of positive and negative aspects. In the last section, the possible effects of the new regulations on Turkish Industrial Relations System are examined. Within the new Trade Union and Collective Bargaining Law, the new period has been started. Although we can estimate the some positive and negative aspects of the new law, time will show the truth to Turkish Industrial Relations. There are lots of discussions about the new regulation between all parties. Some of them acknowledge that Turkey is approaching to the EU standards day by day, the others believe that labour relations deteriorating day by day. Actually some of the international organisations such as ITUC and ETUC are also supporting the second view.