Signs of change in Turkey's working class: workers' age-related perceptions in the modern manufacturing sector*

Abstract

This paper explores the possible effects of the increasing exposure to modernity on younger workers in some sectors of developing countries with special reference to those employed in advanced manufacturing in Turkey. In recent decades Turkey has undergone considerable urbanization, improvements in literacy and rising levels of formal education. The paper systematically examines differences in the work-related attitudes and expectations, commitment and aspirations of younger and older workers, who have been exposed to these processes to different degrees. It is broadly confirmed that younger workers have higher expectations and aspirations that make them relatively less satisfied with a number of aspects of their work and which are likely to make for a less committed more critical workforce.

Turkish trade unionists and Turkey’s membership of the European Union

“…In this cross sectional study we lack the qualitative data that could cast further light on why this might be. However, a study of over 300 unionised [mostly men] workers in seven plants situated in or adjacent to the Izmit triangle, an area of extensive industrialisation which is home to many of the country's top companies, suggested that younger workers have higher expectations and aspirations that make them relatively less satisfied with a number of aspects of their work and which are likely to make for a less committed and more critical workforce (Nichols, Sugur and Tasiran 2003;Nichols and Sugur 2004: 185-200). It seems possible that this more highly developed sense of criticality among younger workers may extend to their relative lack of enthusiasm about joining the EU and that, in their eyes, EU membership may not represent the modernist/civilised future that some Europhiles outside Turkey would suppose.…”