Action of public workers with empty pots and market carts

Demands by public sector workers for an increase unanswered for three months turned into protests in Eskişehir. Members of the Harb-İş Turkish Union gathered in front of the Ulus Monument in Tepebaşı district to protest against the government.

Workers marching towards the countryside chanted ‘Let’s not vote for the government when the wallet is empty’ and ‘Long live our union fight’. The workers, who complained that their salaries were melting rapidly in the face of inflation, recalled that 2.5 million people with their families await the signing of contracts.

“WE ARE DISAPPOINTED”

Hasan Atak, president of the Eskişehir branch of the union, in his speech on the ground, said: “Families of workers working in the public sector began to experience financial difficulties. Our wages have eroded in the face of inflation. While it is obvious that the price of all goods and services will increase day by day, as long as we have difficulty paying our credit card debt, covering our children’s education expenses, paying our rent, while our income is less than our expenses, and now thinking about looking for additional jobs to earn a living, the 2023 talks, which we were looking forward to as public workers this year, have so far failed to take place. disappointment for us.”

“BELOW OUR OFFER EXPECTATION”

Describing the government’s offer of 30 percent well below expectations, Atak said: “We ask for a 45 percent raise and 15 percent shareholding for the first six months. Naturally, this offer was insufficient for us, who suffered a lot. The government sat down at the table with a proposal well above expectations and almost ignored the public worker. It is not possible for us to accept this offer, which will not solve any of our problems for the workers. Those who make this offer are either unaware of the reality of the country or want to test the patience of the working class. Due to the negative economic panorama that has been lived for years, we are tired of closing the gap between our salaries and the limit of hunger and we say enough is enough. As workers, we don’t always want to be the first to pay the price of crises. We are tired and we say enough is enough. We do not accept that our bread shrinks, ”he said.

“I DO NOT ACCEPT THE OFFER OF THE GOVERNMENT”

The president of the Türk Harb İş Union Eskişehir section, Atak, who wanted the game half played against the public workers to end and for the unions and trade unionists to show their real struggles in accordance with the demands of their members, listed the demands of the workers as follows:

* “Do not accept this offer from the government, which is completely far from the truth that will not make any worker happy.

* In order to reduce the losses experienced to some extent, the salaries of public workers and all retirees should be increased by at least 15 percent social participation and 45 percent rate of increase. Don’t commit to this offer.

* Social benefits, additional payments, income tax regulation criteria and covered salaries must be determined based on the base salary.

* That the energy from production be used in all fields for the realization of the demands of Türk-İş without compromise. A comprehensive action plan must be prepared so that our voices are heard across the country.

* From here, our call to the government is to immediately withdraw its offers and bring to the table an acceptable proposal that takes into account the real inflation figures, and that eliminates our financial difficulties.

* We do not accept false inflation rates and increases that condemn public workers to hunger, misery and poverty.