New statement from Memur-Sen on the increase offer

The letter from the Confederation of Public Employees Unions included the reasons why the public employer reviewed its offer.

Recalling that the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey revised its inflation forecast to 58 percent for this year and 33 percent for 2024, it was reported that the public employer determined and stated that “an inflation difference of 25 percent will be granted.” cent to public officials” in January 2024.

Although the determination of the inflation gap by the public employer is rational, the increase proposal for both 2024 and 2025 is far from the realities of the market, the following statements were used:

“Taking into account the inflation gap, the public employer ignored the inflation forecast of 33 percent for 2024 and 15 percent for 2025, and made an offer below the expected inflation figures. In this regard, the statements of the public employer or the determinations on which they are based are contradictory. The summary of the determination that a 25 percent inflation differential will be given to public officials in January 2024 means that the losses for public officials will increase in July-December 2023 and their purchasing power will decrease. The expression ‘including the payment of the inflation difference’ is a major misspelling, both as justification and explanation. The offer, which is displayed and advertised as a significant rate increase, does not reflect the facts when evaluated in terms of actual purchasing power. The affirmation ‘you will receive a 25 percent difference in inflation’ expressed by the public employer is only a claim or determination of the corresponding authority”.

“THE DIFFERENCE OF INFLATION IS THE DEBT OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYER, THE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE OF THE PUBLIC OFFICIAL”

Noting that the inflation figures that are expected to occur in the 5 months that comprise the August-December period are estimates, it must be taken into account that the inflation difference is the debt of the public employer and the accounts receivable of the public official.

The statement indicated that social participation, which should be delivered by the government through legal arrangements for the salary increase that expires with inflation, should also be on the public employer’s agenda.

“While making a total offer of 34 percent for 2 years, the public employer not only missed economic values, expectations or targets, but also overlooked Turkey’s attitude of caring and prioritizing work. In his statement as ‘only a percentage increase’, the public employer did not view the collective bargaining table as a whole and the collective bargaining proposals as complementary to each other, and presented only the general increase proposal. The table’s agenda and the expectation of 11 branches of service is to make an offer in response to Officer Sen’s complementary and holistic offers.”

Recalling that as of today there is a 7-day process for the public employer, it was stated that this term is sufficient for the negotiations to continue, the branches of service to be decided, and the increase proposal to be updated.

The public employer offered a 14 percent raise in the first 6 months of 2024, 9 percent in the second 6 months, 6 percent in the first 6 months of 2025, and 5 percent in the second 6 months of 2024. ( AA)