‘Under-raise’ reaction from public workers

Negotiations continue between the delegations of Türk-İş and Hak-İş representing the workers and the representatives of TÜHİS representing the employer in the negotiations of the Framework Protocol of the Public Collective Agreement.

While workers find the offer of 15 percent social participation + 45 percent raise offered by Turk-Is and Hak-Is to the government insufficient, they are facing rumors that the government will offer 30 percent.

Assessing the progress of the ongoing negotiations between the government and Türk-İş, the president of the Eskişehir branch of the Turkish trade union Harb-İş, Hasan Atak, said: “The proposal of Türk-İş and Hak-İş has been announced to the government; A 15 percent shareholding + 45 percent raise was requested for the first six months. This offer was considered insufficient by the workers who suffered a great victimization.

“Despite these insufficient figures, even the rumors that the government will offer 30 percent have created great anger at the base,” Atak said.

‘OUR PURCHASING POWER IS DECREASING EVERY DAY’

Negotiations for the Public Framework Protocol affecting approximately 700,000 workers continue between the government on behalf of the employer, the employers’ union TÜHIS and Türk-İş and Hak-İş on behalf of the workers. Assessing the talks, Hasan Atak, president of the Eskişehir branch of the Turkish union Harb-İş, said that public employees are experiencing the most difficult days in terms of financial situation.

Stating that due to rising inflation in recent years, the economic problems experienced in the country and falling wages are evident, Atak said:

“Our purchasing power continues to decrease day by day. In the last 10 years, our wages, which have been melting in the face of inflation, have begun to stay below the poverty line, and the gap between our wages and the hunger line has almost completely closed. Every month, before the worker receives the worker’s salary, it fades in the face of high inflation, taxes and constantly distorted TUIK figures.

‘WE CANNOT ACCEPT A TIME THAT WILL NOT RELIEVE OUR LIVESTOCK’

Emphasizing that the government must make more serious proposals without underestimating its employees for a humanely livable life and if this does not happen, Atak said: “It promises to keep the tax bracket at 15 percent for employees who have been crushed by the heavy tax burden while being produced and consumed for years, promises not to crush inflation are not fulfilled in real terms, and even vested rights are constantly retracted,” he said.

Atak said: “It is an unacceptable offer for the Government to offer an increase in the Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations between the Public Coordination Board and the Government, citing the economic crisis and budgetary opportunities, at rates that will not eliminate our current problems of subsistence”.

“Türk-İş and Hak-İş’s proposal to the government has been announced; A 15 percent shareholding + 45 percent raise was requested for the first six months. This offer was considered insufficient by the workers who suffered greatly.

Despite these insufficient figures, even rumors that the government would offer 30 percent created great anger among the rank and file. For this reason, we demand that the energy of the production be used for the signing of the public framework protocol with our boards and members as soon as possible and for the realization of Türk-İş’s demands without obligation.

We demand that Türk Is not back down on its offers and we want it to meet the expectations of 2.5 million people, including their families.”