Vedat Bilgin, Minister of Labor and Social Security, received TÜRK-İŞ and HAK-İŞ delegations in his office within the scope of the 2023 Public Collective Bargaining Agreement Framework Protocol, which concerns more than 700 thousand public workers.
After the reception, which lasted for approximately 1 hour, which was closed to the press, TÜRK-İŞ Chairman Atalay and HAK-İŞ Chairman Mahmut Arslan made statements regarding the meeting.
“The new offer is at the level of 12 thousand lira base wage and 40 percent increase for the first six months”
Stating that the negotiation process continues between the parties, Atalay said:
“The proposal made by TÜHİS (Turkish Heavy Industry and Service Sector Public Employers’ Union) on behalf of the public employer the previous week was to increase the base wage to 11,500 liras and to increase by 30 percent in the first six months. It has been almost two weeks. We convened the public coordination committee at İŞ, and we came here upon the invitation of the Minister. The Minister stated that he did not find the 11,500 lira given by the employers’ union to be sufficient, but reduced it to 12 thousand liras. “This is an important and good development, but we are not in a position to make a decision at this stage. At this point, the new offer is at the level of 12 thousand lira base wage and 40 percent increase for the first six months. It will not reach the holiday, there is no possibility, but it will come to a conclusion at the end of the holiday.” We’ll arrive.”
“We want to pass 40 percent one by one”
Pointing out that nearly half of the public workers’ wages are at the base wage level, Atalay said, “It is good to increase the base wage from 11,500 lira to 12 thousand lira, but this needs to be raised higher. It is nice to increase the percentage from 30 to 40, but it is not enough for us. “The problem with purchasing power continues. Our duty is to increase the purchasing power of the people we represent. This is our effort. I do not underestimate the offer that came today, but we want to pass 40 percent.” said.
“I hope we will give good news at the end of the holiday”
HAK-İŞ Chairman Arslan stated that the new proposal of the government is an important step and said:
“Despite this, we, as TÜRK-İŞ and HAK-İŞ, found this offer sufficient. We attach importance to the attitude of the Minister. Since this offer fell short of the expectations of both our unions and our members, we wanted our institutions and the Minister to re-evaluate it. We will inform you. Expectations are high. I hope that we will give good news at the end of the holiday.”
