Büro Memur-Sen Submits 8th Collective Bargaining Proposals to Ministry of Labor

Ankara – Büro Memur-Sen, the authorized union for its service branch for 14 years, has officially submitted its 8th Collective Bargaining proposals to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. The comprehensive set of proposals aims to improve the financial and social rights of public employees, covering a wide range of issues from special service indemnities to overtime payments, bonuses, clothing, and meal allowances.

Detailed Proposals Handed to Deputy Minister Faruk Özçelik

Büro Memur-Sen Chairman Yusuf Yazgan personally handed the detailed proposal document to Mr. Faruk Özçelik, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Security. Yazgan emphasized the union's unwavering commitment to advocating for the rights and benefits of public servants and its members. He stated that the 8th Collective Bargaining talks would address long-standing issues, as well as introduce new proposals designed to bring significant improvements for public employees in their service branch.

The delegation accompanying Chairman Yazgan included Deputy Chairmen Ahmet Kızıl, Hüseyin Yüksel, Cemal Üstün, Mahmut Ergen, and Zekeriya Köftercioğlu. This robust representation underscored the union's dedication and seriousness regarding the proposals.

Key Demands for the 8th Collective Bargaining Agreement in the Office, Banking, and Insurance Service Branch

Büro Memur-Sen's proposals for the 8th Collective Bargaining Agreement include both safeguarding existing rights and introducing significant enhancements. Here are some of the prominent demands:

Provisions to Be Maintained:

• Special Service Indemnity for State Archives Directorate Researchers: The current 30-point increase to the indemnity rates for researchers appointed to civil servant positions under temporary Article 41 of Law No. 657 will be preserved.

Proposals for Enhancement and Continued Application:

• Travel Card: Issuance of photo-bearing travel cards for personnel regularly assigned to mobile duties within their locality at the Revenue Administration, Social Security Institution (SGK), Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), and Ministry of Trade.

• Overtime Pay for Civil Registry and Citizenship Affairs: Overtime pay for civil servants and contracted personnel at the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Civil Registry and Citizenship Affairs (central and provincial organizations) at twelve times the hourly overtime rate in metropolitan areas and ten times in other areas, for up to 50 hours per month and 450 hours per year. Overtime between 8 PM and 6 AM, on weekends, and public holidays would receive an additional 50% to 100% increase.

• Risk Pay for Custodial Officers: A three-fold increase in the occupational risk pay for custodial officers.

• Indemnities for Enforcement Officers and Clerks: An 80-point increase in indemnity rates for enforcement officers and clerks.

• Overtime Pay for Court Personnel: Increased overtime hours (from 300 to 500) and higher pay multiples (from three to eight times) as per Provisional Article 17 of Decree-Law No. 375. Higher multipliers for metropolitan areas and increased pay for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Indemnities and Additional Payments for Court Clerks and Bailiffs: A 70-point increase in indemnity rates and a 70-point increase in additional payments for contracted court clerks and bailiffs.

• Additional Payments for Provincial Civil Registry and Citizenship Directors: An 80-point increase in additional payment rates.

• Overtime Pay for SGK Provincial Directorate Personnel: Overtime pay at twelve times (metropolitan) or ten times (other areas) the hourly rate for personnel in high-workload units, up to 50 hours per month and 500 hours per year, with increased rates for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Overtime Pay for Ministry of Treasury and Finance Provincial Organization and Accounting Office Personnel: Similar overtime pay multipliers and increased rates for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Public Transportation: Free public transportation for customs enforcement officers of the Ministry of Trade in municipal public transport vehicles.

• Indemnities for Certain Specialists: A 10-point increase for certain specialists and auditors, 7 points for their assistants; an 80-point increase in special service indemnities for specialists in the General Administrative Services class.

• Contract Fees for Pharmacists: A 25% increase in contract fees for contracted pharmacists in SGK provincial organizations.

• Financial Responsibility Pay for Cashiers: Financial responsibility pay set at 1500 points, with special service indemnity rates increased by 80 to 100 points depending on the province.

• Overtime Pay for Civil Registry and Citizenship Affairs General Directorate Personnel (Revised): Overtime pay at ten times the hourly rate (twelve times for Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir) for election, identity card, driver's license, and passport services, with increased rates for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Shuttle Service: Provision of shuttle services or monthly public transportation card reimbursement for Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) personnel.

• Aviation Indemnity for Meteorology General Directorate Personnel: Aviation indemnity paid from revolving fund budget, with rates determined by personnel cost coverage by Eurocontrol.

• Overtime Pay for Youth and Sports Provincial Directorates Personnel: Increased overtime hours and rates, with additional increases for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Youth and Sports Ministry (GSB) Travel Allowance and Rations: Rations for personnel working outside regular hours and monthly public transportation fee reimbursement if shuttle service is not provided.

• Competition Assignment Fees: A 200% increase in indicator figures for GSB personnel assigned to competitions, with additional increases for after-hours, weekend, and holiday assignments.

• Additional Payments for 112 Emergency Call Center Personnel: An 80-point increase in additional payment rates for call answering personnel.

• Duty Pay: Hourly duty pay for personnel working with judges/prosecutors outside regular hours.

• Indemnities and Additional Payments for Dormitory Management Officers: An 80-point increase in indemnity rates and an 80-point increase in additional payment rates for dormitory management officers.

• Justice Services Indemnity: Justice services indemnity rates increased by 80 to 100 points depending on the province, with expanded coverage.

• Overtime Pay for Civilian Personnel in Security Forces: Overtime pay at twelve times (metropolitan) or ten times (other areas) the hourly rate for civilian personnel in the General Directorate of Security, up to 50 hours per month and 450 hours per year, with increased rates for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Overtime Pay for Civilian Personnel in Ministry of National Defense (MSB): Similar overtime pay multipliers and increased rates for evening, weekend, and holiday work for civilian personnel in the MSB and affiliated institutions.

• Overtime Pay for Governorship and District Governorship Personnel: Overtime pay at twelve times (metropolitan) or ten times (other areas) the hourly rate for work exceeding 40 hours per week, with increased rates for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

• Overtime Pay in Directorate General of Migration Management Repatriation Centers: Overtime pay at five times the hourly rate for personnel in repatriation centers, up to 50 hours per month and 300 hours per year, with increased rates for evening, weekend, and holiday work.

New Proposals to Be Negotiated Within the Service Branch:

• Overtime Pay for Court Personnel (Revised Proposal): Re-evaluation of overtime hours and rates based on current indicator figures.

• Service Class and Additional Payments for Coaches, Sports Experts, Youth Services Officers, and Sports Education Experts: Reclassification of these positions to the Education and Training Services Class (EÖHS), an 80-point increase in additional payment rates, monetary clothing allowance, and eligibility for education preparation allowance.

• Indemnities and Special Service Indemnities for Section Chiefs: Application of the same indemnity and special service indemnity rates as for "Şef" (Chief) positions.

• Overtime Pay for 112 Emergency Call Center Personnel: Overtime pay calculated by multiplying 300 indicator points by the civil servant monthly coefficient for each hour of overtime.

• Overtime Pay for Ministry of Treasury and Finance Provincial Organization and Accounting Office Personnel (Revised Proposal): Similar calculation for overtime pay using 300 indicator points.

• Audit Services Indemnity: An 80-point increase in audit indemnity rates for civil servants in institutions within the service branch.

• Additional Payments for MSB and Affiliated Institutions Personnel: An 80-point increase in additional payment rates.

• Rations for Youth and Sports Ministry Provincial Organization Personnel: Provision of rations for personnel not covered by the Civil Servants Food Aid Regulation.

• Actual Service Period Increase: Initiatives to include Customs Enforcement officers and supervisors, and civilian civil servants in EGM, Gendarmerie General Command, and MSB, in the actual service period increase scope.

• Overtime Pay for Security Guards on National and Religious Holidays: Payment for each hour of duty on national and religious holidays, calculated by multiplying 200 indicator points by the civil servant monthly coefficient.

• SGK Metropolitan Audit Indemnity: An additional 20 points for audit, special service indemnity, and additional payments for Social Security Auditors and their assistants working in metropolitan areas.

• Foreign Affairs Central Personnel Indemnity Points: A 2,000-point increase in job difficulty and recruitment difficulty indemnity points for personnel working in the central organization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Bonus Payments for Public Employees in the Service Branch: Two annual bonuses, no less than the minimum wage and equivalent to their monthly salary (including additional indicators).

• Adjustment of Indicator Figure for TÜİK Project-Based Personnel: Setting the indicator figure for TÜİK project-based personnel at 44.076.

• Special Service Indemnities for Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Dieticians, and Nurses in Service Branch Institutions: An 80-point increase in indemnity rates for these positions.

• Customs Enforcement Border Indemnity: An 80-point increase in indemnity rates for personnel working under Law No. 3497 on the Protection and Security of Land Borders.

• Clothing Allowance for Enforcement Officers: Eligibility for clothing allowance for SGK Enforcement Officers performing field duties.

• Operation Indemnity: 50% of the operation indemnity paid to Security Services Class personnel for civilian personnel in the General Directorate of Security assigned to operations.

• Indemnity Rates for Certain Personnel: Revision of certain indemnity rates in the Decree on Payments of Allowances and Indemnities to Civil Servants based on grade.

• Overtime Pay for Civil Registry and Citizenship Affairs General Directorate Personnel (Revised II): Overtime pay calculated by multiplying 300 indicator points by the civil servant monthly coefficient for each hour of overtime due to specific services.

Büro Memur-Sen's proposals aim to elevate the living standards of public employees, improve working conditions, and establish a fairer wage system. The union affirmed its commitment to working diligently to achieve a positive outcome from the 8th Collective Bargaining negotiations.