Emphasis on the Right to Strike by Yazgan, President of Büro Memur-Sen: "Essential for a Full Trade Union Struggle!"

In his speech at the consultation meeting of Branch No. 138 established within the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, Yusuf Yazgan, President of Office Civil Servants-Sen, stated that union rights should be expanded and said, "A full union struggle is not possible without the right to strike." Yazgan emphasized that they will continue to make new gains by increasing organized power.

28 September 2025 - ANKARA - Büro Memur-Sen, one of the leading representatives of public servants unionism, held the consultation meeting of Branch No. 138 (Ministry of Finance) for the employees of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. The meeting left its mark on the agenda with President Yusuf Yazgan's critical statements on union rights and current developments.

The meeting was attended by Vice Presidents Hüseyin Yüksel and Zekeriya Köftercioğlu, Advisor to the President Halil Küçükdevlet, other branch presidents in Ankara and delegates of the new branch.

Full Struggle is Not Possible Without the Right to Strike

General President Yazgan devoted the main theme of his speech to the limits of the union rights of public servants. While evaluating the current state of public unionism in Turkey, he said that legal deficiencies need to be eliminated in order for the struggle to be carried out in full.

"With a trade union law that does not include the right to strike, struggles can only continue up to a certain point. The right to strike must also be included in the law. Without the right to strike, complete trade union struggle is not possible," he said.

Yazgan reminded that despite this limited legal framework, Memur-Sen Confederation has so far achieved more than 70 gains and underlined the achievements of the union.

Critical Assessment of the Collective Bargaining Process

8. Mentioning the collective bargaining process, Yazgan stated that Memur-Sen did not sign the collective bargaining agreement in this period as it has been the case in the last two periods. Reminding that the contract was signed by the board after the Public Employer's Committee applied to the Arbitration Board, Yazgan once again demonstrated that the restriction of the right to strike weakens the unions' hand at the collective bargaining table.

However, he noted that despite this difficult process, significant material improvements have been achieved for the employees of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the Revenue Administration:

• Supplementary Pay, Special Service Compensation: Compensation and payment rates of personnel at all levels were increased.

• Overtime Wages: Improvements were made in overtime wages for staff.

Strengthening Determination with Organized Power

General President Yusuf Yazgan emphasized that Branch 138, established within the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, will increase the union's organized power and reinforce its determination to struggle.

"With our newly established branch, our union struggle will become even stronger. With our increasing organized power, our determination to solve the problems will be strengthened."

Yazgan wished the new Branch President Özgür Görgülü and his management success. Branch President Görgülü shared with the participants the details of the purpose of the establishment of the branch and the activities it plans to carry out in the coming period.

With this consultation meeting, Office Memur-Sen reiterated its promise to protect the rights of employees and sent the message that it will continue to pursue a fundamental demand such as the Right to Strike in public servants unionism.