The Government's Second CBA Proposal Angered Memur-Sen: 1000 TL Increase in Base Salary

ANKARA - The negotiations for the 8th Term Public Collective Bargaining Agreement took a new dimension when the government presented its second proposal for civil servants and civil servant retirees. However, the proposal by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security for a 1,000 Turkish lira diluted increase in base salaries in addition to the percentages in the first proposal was met with a reaction that was far from satisfying the authorized confederation, Memur-Sen. Ali Yalçın, President of Memur-Sen, stated that this offer did not meet the expectations of public laborers and clearly stated that it led the unions to the activism process.

Government's Recovery Proposal: Figures and Impact

The second offer brought to the table by the government maintains the main outlines of the first offer, while envisaging an increase of 1000 TL to the base salary as an improvement for low-income civil servants. The first offer included 10 percent in the first 6 months and 6 percent in the second 6 months for 2026, and 4 percent in the first 6 months and 4 percent in the second 6 months for 2027. Although this new 1000 TL additional raise will create a relatively more noticeable increase for civil servants with low salaries, it is stated that it is far from meeting the general demands. Such increases, which are referred to as "Seyyan increases", do not offer a long-term solution in terms of the pension rights of civil servant retirees and current employees, as they are not reflected in their pensions.

Harsh Reaction from Civil Servants' Union: "Address Right, Quantity Wrong"

Taking to the cameras immediately after the public announcement of the proposal, Ali Yalçın, the President of Memur-Sen, harshly criticized the government's proposal. Yalçın said, "The address is correct but the amount is extremely wrong" for the content of the proposal and emphasized that their demand for a diluted improvement in the salaries of public employees was understood, but the amount offered was far below expectations.

Yalçın stated that it is not possible for his union to accept this offer and said, "This offer does not meet expectations. I say it very clearly, this means pointing us, our unions, to the field." This statement signals that in the event of a deadlock at the collective bargaining table, the union may decide to take action and seek public support.

Bargaining Process and Union Expectations

While the negotiations are expected to continue until August 21, civil servants' unions expect their basic demands to be met, such as the general proposals on the table as well as the basic demands such as a diluted increase for pensioners, the elimination of injustice in the wage scale and the establishment of a merit-based system. The fact that the diluted increases made in previous years were not reflected in the pensions caused a great victimization in this segment. In addition, giving 3600 additional indicators to all civil servants who reach the 1st degree and eliminating the salary differences between civil servants in different institutions are among the priorities of the union.

With this latest offer, the negotiations between the parties are likely to become even more tense. Public employees and pensioners are eagerly waiting to see how their incomes, which are eroding in the face of inflation, will be protected and how the unions' struggle in this critical process will end. It remains to be seen whether the government will make a better offer in the last four days.

Source: universal.net