Declaration of the collective agreement of the president of Kamu-Sen, Kahveci

Turkey’s Kamu-Sen Chairman Önder Kahveci stated that he could not understand the public employer’s offer of increase, even below the Central Bank’s inflation forecast for 2024, in the collective negotiations, saying: “25 million our citizens are waiting for a new fair and equitable offer that will make them smile.”

Kahveci made statements to members of the press at the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare before the meeting where the Public Employers Committee will present its second proposal within the framework of the negotiations of the 7th Period Public Collective Agreement.

Noting that the third general meeting will be held today on the collective agreement, Kahveci said that they will see if the Public Employers Committee reviews the increase proposal presented at the previous meeting.

Kahveci affirmed that they demanded that the proposal be reviewed and that they will maintain their position of negotiating not only economic rights but also other demands, as well as reaching a conclusion.

Referring to the economic conditions in the country, Kahveci said that the increases in fuel prices have exceeded 100 percent in recent months, the public has increased all accounts receivable by more than 100 percent through taxes. and fines, and the income of the houses exceeded those of public servants. salaries

Noting that the Central Bank has updated its inflation forecasts to 58 percent for this year, 33 percent for 2024 and 15 percent for 2025, Kahveci said that they see the probability that the Central Bank’s forecasts come true in these conditions is extremely low. .

‘THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO PROVIDE A REALISTIC INCREASE’

Kahveci said that like Turkey Kamu-Sen, they came to the collective bargaining table demanding a cumulative increase of 100.2 percent by 2024 and 58.4 percent by 2025. He recalled that he offered a 9 percent increase for the first 6 months of 2025 and 5 percent for the second 6 months of 2025.

In evaluating the public employer’s offer, Kahveci used the following statements:

“This offer has nothing to do with the realities of the market. Therefore, we never accept this offer. The proposal does not agree with the inflation forecasts of the Central Bank, and never corresponds to the realities.

The basis of the problems experienced by public servants to date is the determination of salary increases according to target inflation. Our public servants should not pay the price of giving raises according to dreams and ignoring the facts.

Therefore, the Government must review its proposal and present a realistic increase proposal. Factors such as inflation, growth, social participation, expenses and compensation for losses experienced in the past period must be evaluated in the proposal to be made.

NEW OFFER MUST ARRIVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Kahveci stated that the employers’ committee did not make any assessment regarding their demands, such as rent subsidy, spouse and child allowance, heating and transportation subsidy, and meal fee, saying, “As Turkey Kamu- Sen, a new and acceptable solution can be found as soon as possible, allowing time to negotiate. We are making an open call here to receive an offer,” he said.

Recalling the demands that were presented to the public employer at the beginning of the collective agreements, Kahveci affirmed that an increase in wages as much as the estimated inflation would never increase the purchasing power of employees in real terms, and pointed out that the social participation of 13, 5 percent application, which was implemented in January of this year, must continue.

‘LET’S CALL THE AUTHORITIES TO THE TRUTH’

Kahveci stated that they did not bring to the table any issues or amounts that they did not have rights to, and that they did not want to leave the table without obtaining their rights.

Affirming that for years, the most oppressed and wage earners in this country are civil servants and retirees, Kahveci said:

“Proposing a 23 percent increase and targeting 33 percent inflation means leaving our civil servants and retirees to their fate. We call the authorities to the truth, we invite them to be fair, we say ‘End this victimization’.

While we try to explain the grievances of millions of our citizens over the increases given in accordance with the inflation target, we cannot understand the purpose of coming to the table with an offer of an increase even below the inflation target. Our demands are reasonable and consistent with market realities. Our 25 million citizens are waiting for a new fair and equitable offer that will make them smile.”

THE SECOND HIGH GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL ANNOUNCED

In the negotiations of the Public Collective Agreement of the Seventh Duration, where the increases of civil servants and retirees will be determined in the period 2024-2025, the government presented today the second increase offer.

The government’s offer for an increase was 15+10 percent for 2024 and 6+5 percent for 2025.

In its first proposal, the government proposed a 14+9 percent increase by 2024 and a 6+5 percent increase by 2025, but Memur-Sen did not accept the offer.

In the first proposal, the government demanded a cumulative increase of 24.2 percent against Memur-Sen’s offer of a total increase of 87.8 percent in 2024. This proposal provoked a reaction from the unions as it was very below the Central Bank’s forecast of 33 percent by 2024. (SÖZCÜ-AA)