| Summary: | This article analyses the role of local dynamics on trade unions’ mobilisation capacity at the
national level, with a focus on the wildcat strikes in the metal sector in Bursa, a city in north-west
Turkey, from 2012 to 2016. It studies to what extent local dynamics such as alliances with local
branches of political parties, workplace demonstrations, and local electoral and union organising
campaigns contributed to protests against national government policies. The research and
analysis are based on both qualitative data collected during fieldwork and on quantitative data
from a variety of Turkish and international sources. Through an analysis of the wildcat strikes,
the article contributes to the literature on labour movements and strikes in authoritarian contexts.
Differently from the majority of the existing literature on this issue, it focuses on the workplace
level rather than analysing the relations between government officials and the trade union
confederations at the national level. By doing this, it shows that, despite the oppressive context at
the national level, trade unions may regain power at the sectoral level.
KEYWORDS: trade unions; metal industry; Turkey; authoritarian regime; social movements
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