Extended Summary

After World War II, Germany faced a labour shortage due to rapid industrial growth and signed bilateral labour agreements with several countries, including Turkey in 1961. This migration led to significant Turkish communities in Germany, whose socio-cultural struggles influenced both societies and literature. Güney Dal’s debut novel İş Sürgünleri (1976) centers on the 1973 Cologne Ford strike, depicting Turkish labourers’ hardships through a realist lens. This study analyzes the novel within the context of labour history, media portrayals, and academic discourse, comparing fictional and historical realities of the migration experience.

The analysis is grounded in a comparative qualitative framework informed by theories of narrative and historical representation. Drawing on Hayden White’s view that historical accounts acquire meaning through narrative forms and on Georg Lukács’s concept of the historical novel as a genre that situates individual lives within broader social transformations, the study examines where the novel overlaps with archival and journalistic sources and where it diverges from them. The central guiding questions are how İş Sürgünleri reflects contemporary testimonies, in what respects it reconstructs them differently, and how these differences illuminate the relationship between fiction and historical reality.

The Fordist production model, based on assembly-line work and standardized tasks, heavily influenced labour conditions at Germany’s Ford factory, particularly during the 1970s. Migrant workers, especially from Turkey, formed a large part of the workforce, often living in cramped, temporary accommodations. Turkish labourers were mainly assigned to the most exhausting and repetitive tasks on the assembly lines, facing structural discrimination through limited promotion opportunities, lower wages, and ethnic job segregation. The intense pace, constant noise, and mechanical routine fostered alienation and physical strain. Literature such as İş Sürgünleri captures these realities through characters like Hamdi, who bitterly recounts the relentless tempo and emotional toll of factory life. His narrative reflects the discontent caused by heightened production demands, invasive security checks, and the omnipresence of time control in the workplace. Rather than framing migrant struggles as personal failings, the novel emphasizes the systemic nature of labour exploitation, aligning with broader scholarly critiques of the post-war industrial regime.

In the early 1970s, Western economies faced rising inflation and stagnation due to energy crises, notably the 1973 oil shock. In West Germany, the economic downturn led to reduced real wages, growing worker dissatisfaction, and widespread strikes, particularly in the metal sector. The 1973 Ford strike in Cologne emerged from both external and internal pressures. Externally, the economic crisis and cost of living increases intensified labour unrest. Internally, the Ford factory imposed harsh conditions: accelerated production pace, restricted breaks, unequal treatment, and limited vacation time, particularly for migrant workers. Turkish workers were disproportionately affected, as many were dismissed for exceeding their limited leave to visit families abroad. These dismissals led to a labour shortage and increased pressure on remaining staff, ultimately triggering the strike. The novel İş Sürgünleri reflects this reality, capturing the emotional toll and systemic inequality that fueled the protests, making it a critical literary lens on industrial conflict and migrant labour in 1970s Germany.

The 1973 Ford strike in Cologne stands out as the largest unauthorized strike led by migrant workers in West German history, primarily initiated by Turkish labourers. Around 3,000 Turkish workers halted production in protest against wage inequality, poor conditions, and arbitrary dismissals. A strike committee—formed independently of unions—imposed strict rules to maintain order, and the movement soon grew to include nearly 12,000 workers from various nationalities. Turkish workers led the strike both numerically and organizationally, earning the event the label “Turkish strike” in the media. Their demands included the reinstatement of dismissed workers, a pay raise, slower production speeds, and extended leave.

In İş Sürgünleri, the strike’s momentum is vividly captured through characters like Hamdi, Sıtkı, and Şevket, who represent differing levels of involvement and ideology. The novel reflects both the collective spirit of the strike—with songs, dances, and solidarity—and internal tensions, including opposition from strike-breaking Turkish figures. The strike’s festive atmosphere gradually gives way to rising political tensions, employer resistance, and limited institutional support. Despite efforts by company officials and certain union figures to suppress the strike, Turkish workers remained central, coordinating protests and spreading awareness. The novel presents the strike not just as a labour struggle, but as a cultural and political awakening for migrant workers.

In the 1973 Ford strike, Turkish workers faced limited support from unions like IG Metall, which prioritized German permanent employees. Although many Turks were union members, language barriers and cultural exclusion hindered effective participation. The union and management worked together to suppress the strike, labeling it illegal and radical. The Turkish Consulate also discouraged participation, portraying strike leaders as criminals. Despite initial solidarity and cultural celebration, the strike ended with police intervention and mass dismissals. Over 600 Turkish workers lost their jobs, many under pressure to resign. Though the demands were unmet, the strike became a symbol of migrant labour resistance in Germany and exposed deep structural inequalities, pushing labour discourse toward inclusivity and reform in later decades.

During the 1970s, Turkish guest workers in Germany were often portrayed in the media as obedient and naturally suited for industrial labour. These stereotypes reinforced acceptance of poor working conditions. However, the 1973 Ford strike disrupted this image, as Turkish workers were now depicted as rebellious and disruptive, with headlines like “Turkish Terror.” Most German newspapers framed the strike negatively, blaming migrant workers for cultural incompatibility and accusing them of being manipulated by communist groups. Some outlets, like Frankfurter Rundschau and Der Spiegel, offered more balanced views, highlighting issues such as wage inequality and poor housing.

Güney Dal’s novel occupies a unique place in class struggle literature by making historical reality visible through fiction, while its structural critiques align with academic data.