Second of TÜRK-İŞ Executive Training Seminars Started: Important Messages from President Atalay on the Critical Agenda of Labor Life

AYDIN / DIDIM - The second of the Executive Training Seminars organized by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) within the scope of the "Current Developments in Working Life and Trade Union Education Project" started in Didim between 13-16 October 2025.

Members of the TÜRK-İŞ Board of Directors, Central Training-Organization and Financial Secretaries of the unions affiliated to the Confederation participated in the seminar, which aimed to ensure the flow of information on union training and current issues.

Comprehensive Assessment of Working Life by President Atalay

The seminar was opened by Ramazan Ağar, Vice President of TÜRK-İŞ. Upon Ağar's invitation, TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay took the floor and delivered a comprehensive speech on many critical issues that closely concern the working life of the country.

In his speech, President Atalay touched upon the most fundamental problems of the working class and highlighted the following topics:

• Seniority Indemnity: He reiterated the sensitivity and union stance on possible regulations on severance pay, which is the security of workers.

• Public CBA and Minimum Wage: He evaluated union demands in the recently concluded public collective agreements and the process of determining the minimum wage, which directly affects the livelihood of millions of workers.

• Unfair Tax System: Pointing out the high deductions in income tax and the heavy burden of indirect taxes on workers, he reiterated his demand for a fair tax system.

• Economic Problems: He brought to the agenda the devastating effects of economic indicators such as the cost of living, high inflation and unemployment on the purchasing power of laborers.

• Social Security and Employment Victimizations: He shared his views on chronic issues such as the problems of internship victims, the prevalence of unregistered employment, the staffing expectations of subcontracted workers, the rights of workers in mines and the disruptions in the pension system.

Atalay also emphasized the union's determination to fight against the spread of precarious employment and called on managers to inform their organizations in the light of current developments and to strengthen unity.

Seminar on 21st Century Industrial Relations and Communication on the Table

The seminar continued with a training program after the opening speech of President Atalay. In the following parts of the meeting, the participants were provided with important information about the future of today's trade unionism.

• Prof. Dr. Sayım Yorgun analyzed the effects of globalization, digitalization and artificial intelligence on working life from a trade union perspective with his presentation titled "The Future of Industrial Relations in the 21st Century."

• Trainer Özlem Yurdanur provided information on "Trade Union Communication" and emphasized the methods for unions to communicate more effectively and healthily with their members and the public.

The seminar, which will last for four days in Didim, serves TÜRK-İŞ's goal of increasing the knowledge and equipment of its member union executives and carrying out the union struggle more strongly.