The bargaining for raises for public workers continues. While employer and worker representatives came together once again today, no decision was made at the meeting.
Vedat Bilgin, Minister of Labor and Social Security, Turkish Heavy Industry and Service Sector Public Employers' Union, Türk-İş and Hak-İş attended the meeting.
Speaking after the meeting held within the scope of the 2023 Public Collective Bargaining Agreement Framework Protocol for public workers, Türk-İş President Ergün Atalay stated that the public expects a figure from the talks; but saying that he is not in a position to give a number.
"Most recently, there was a proposal for a base salary of 12 thousand liras and a raise of around 40 percent. Apart from that number, all of the unions have special problems in their workplaces. There is a labor charge, a service charge, night work, shifts. Today we solved some of them; but they said that both the Minister and the employer's union will bring us a number on Tuesday next week regarding the new proposal," he said.
“WE DON'T WANT A DIFFERENT NUMBERS”
Reminding that the negotiations started on January 20, Atalay reminded that the workers wanted these meetings to be concluded as they wished.
"If they give an appropriate number, it would be great. If they don't, there is no verse that says 'We will end this issue before the election'. Let them fulfill the demand of a family of 3 million as soon as possible. Tuesday will be the last, after Tuesday there is no point in meeting anyway. Hopefully, on Tuesday, they will bring us a figure about the floor and ceiling wages. There are a couple of issues that we get stuck on in the administrative articles, they are resolved and the contract is made. We don't want a small number here," he added.
“WE HOPE WE FINALLY CONCLUDE IT THE NEXT WEEK”
Making statements after the meeting, Hak-İş Chairman Mahmut Arslan pointed out the meeting to be held next week.
"As a result of this meeting, we passed a certain stage. I hope we will meet with the Minister again next week. We will also do our best to reach a final agreement on the collective bargaining agreement. A complete agreement could not be reached. Our efforts will continue for this. I find this point we have reached important. We have reached an important stage in signing the collective bargaining agreement that 700 thousand employees expect from us. Hopefully we'll have this done next week. We want the public, knowingly or unknowingly, the exaggeration of the collective bargaining agreement of the workers, and we want the circles who are not aware that the workers are working at the minimum wage level today, to know this," he said.