Criticism of the Collective Bargaining Agreement from Health Merit-Sen to Memur-Sen: "The Solution Address Should Have Been the Parliament, Not the Arbitration Committee!"

Harsh Criticism to Memur-Sen from Healthcare Merit-Sen: "The 8th Collective Bargaining Period Ended in Frustration"
Mehmet Demirel, President of Health Liyakat-Sen, harshly criticized the 8th Term Collective Bargaining Agreement negotiations that ended in a disagreement and the authorized confederation, Memur-Sen, took the process to the Arbitration Committee. Demirel stated that the expectations of 6.5 million civil servants and pensioners have once again come to naught.
In his press statement, Mehmet Demirel claimed that the negotiations have been like a "theater" from the very beginning. He drew attention to the huge gap between the 88% raise demanded by Memur-Sen and the government's offer of 12% for the first 6 months and 8% for the second 6 months. He stated that this offer is equivalent to 20% in total for the year 2026 and that 6.5 million civil servants and pensioners are being mocked.
"The Arbitration Committee Acts as the Notary of the Government"
President Demirel interpreted the referral of an issue on which Memur-Sen could not reach an agreement to the Arbitration Committee, which has produced results in favor of the government with its previous decisions, as leaving the hopes of civil servants for another spring. Demirel said, "The fact that the authorized confederation referred this raise, which it did not like, to the Arbitration Panel has led to the frustrating outcome of the 8th Collective Bargaining process. Considering the decisions of the Arbitration Committee so far, unfortunately, it is known that it acts as a notary approving the government's proposal," he said.
"The Solution Address Should Be the Grand National Assembly of Turkey"
Demirel emphasized that the real solution should be sought in the Parliament. "If Memur-Sen, as the authorized confederation, had not sent the civil servant raise to the Arbitration Committee, the solution address would have been the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. During the budget negotiations to be held in October, the ruling and opposition MPs could have decided on the 8th term civil servant raise in the parliament and a fairer result could have been achieved."
Demirel concluded his remarks by stating that the civil servants were once again disappointed with the repetition of a tried method and said, "What a great past for 6.5 million civil servants and pensioners. We are saddened to see that the authorized confederation has taken on this shame," Demirel said.