New Trade Union Vision from Sağlık-Sen: "We Combine Rights Seeking and Heart Touch"

Ankara - Sağlık-Sen President Mahmut Faruk Doğan announced in his speech at the consultation meeting of Ankara Branch No. 4 that they have added a new dimension to their vision of union struggle. Doğan stated that the union will now follow a policy that is not only "seeking rights" but also "works that touch the hearts of the members" and focuses on social unionism. During the meeting, the union's recent achievements and working methods were discussed in detail.

Started with an Emphasis on Transparency and Consultation

The meeting was attended by President Mahmut Faruk Doğan and Deputy President Yasin Barutcu, and the problems of social service and Forensic Medicine Institution employees were first heard. Answering the questions one by one, President Doğan emphasized the importance of transparency and consultation culture in trade unionism.

Doğan stated that Sağlık-Sen is growing in the Ministry of Family and Social Services and said, "We work transparently and consult with our members. We are working on what more we can do so that what comes from the member goes to the member. In our new union policy, we are both seeking rights and aiming to sign works that touch the hearts of our members."

Good News of Staffing for Employees with Additional Classes and ASDEP

Emphasizing the struggling aspect of Sağlık-Sen, Doğan announced that they have solved an important problem within the Ministry of Family and Social Services. "With our struggle, we have solved the problem that 2 thousand 800 additional classmates have been experiencing for years. Our additional classmates and ASDEP colleagues have become permanent staff. This happened with the struggle of Sağlık-Sen," said the General President. Noting that they talk about the sacrifices of social service professionals on every platform, Doğan added that the struggle will continue with determination.

Clear Attitude to Work Stoppages: Trade Unionism Prioritizing Dialogue

General President Doğan clearly expressed his views on union action methods and emphasized that they are against work stoppages. He stated that this attitude stems from the sensitivity of the health and social service field.

Doğan said, "We are against work stoppages. We are health and social service professionals. How can we victimize our people? Think about How can we stop work in Sevgi Evleri, Çocuk Evleri. How can we victimized our children and elderly people there? I cannot throw my physicians, nurses and social workers into the fire. We are focused on solving problems through dialog."

Stating that this dialogue-oriented approach has produced tangible results in the Collective Bargaining process, Doğan noted that a large proportion of the budget allocated in the 8th Term Collective Bargaining was given to Sağlık-Sen's service branch: "This is all thanks to our lobbying and public opinion-forming actions. We have the egg on our backs."

Vice President Barutcu: Lobbying and Public Opinion Power

In his speech, Deputy General President Yasin Barutcu said that Sağlık-Sen, with its 30 years of experience, has been struggling without compromising on labor and sweat. Explaining the secret of their success in the Collective Bargaining process, Mr. Barutcu said, "We did our best for our demands that we prepared as a result of a long-term work. We created public opinion with the actions we took. As a result, we made important gains in the health and social service sector. We also need to see this reality. Because we are not like others, we are from Sağlık-Sen."

Ankara Branch No. 4 President Eyüp Medet pointed out that 70 percent of the employees of the Ministry of Family and Social Services are members of Sağlık-Sen and reminded that they achieved important gains in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, such as increasing the social service compensation of the personnel working in residential institutions providing services for severely disabled and children.