Samsun, Turkey – With just days left until the 8th Term Collective Bargaining process, the Birleşik Kamu-İş Confederation strongly voiced the demands of public employees from Samsun, the City of Salvation. In a powerful demonstration held in front of the Atatürk Monument, the Confederation vehemently protested the burden of the economic crisis being placed on workers, reiterating their demands for humane living conditions, secure employment, and fair wages, alongside a call for a law establishing the right to strike and collective bargaining.
"The Worker's Word Will Prevail, Not the Table's!"
Amidst chants like "We will win by uniting," "TÜİK is a lie, inflation is real," and "No salvation alone, either all together or none of us," Birleşik Kamu-İş General Chairman Orhan Yıldırım read the press statement. In his speech, Yıldırım sharply criticized the current economic order and the functioning of the collective bargaining table, declaring their resolve with the words, "This system cannot continue! The worker's word will prevail, not the table's."
"Workers' Rights Cannot Be Usurped: 23 Years' Burden on the People's Shoulders"
The statement, delivered on behalf of the Confederation, harshly criticized the policies of the political power that has governed the country for 23 years. It depicted a grim picture where the public is dragged into hunger and poverty, workers, farmers, retirees, and civil servants cannot make ends meet, and young people are forced to leave the country due to a lack of future prospects. Under these conditions, it was emphasized that public employees have no choice but to fight for humane living conditions.
Fierce Reaction to TÜİK Data: "Unrealistic Inflation, Wages Below Hunger Line"
The statement highlighted that the inflation figures announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) are unrealistic and do not reflect the deep poverty experienced by the public. According to data from Kamu-Ar, Birleşik Kamu-İş's research unit, as of June 2025, the hunger threshold had reached 27,415 TL, and the poverty threshold had hit 83,859 TL. Despite these figures, the 6% raise given to public employees had already eroded, and the minimum wage remained below the hunger threshold, leading to the firm declaration: "Workers' rights cannot be usurped."
8th Term Collective Bargaining Demands Detailed
Birleşik Kamu-İş Confederation announced its demands to the public in anticipation of the upcoming 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations:
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Law on Union Rights with Strike and Collective Bargaining: Ensuring the full recognition and exercise of union rights.
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Monthly Payment of Inflation Differential: Immediately addressing the negative impact of inflation on wages.
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Wages Above the Poverty Line: A wage level that allows public employees to live humanely.
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Inclusion of Supplementary Payments in Base Salary: Ensuring supplementary payments reflect in the main salary and affect retirement benefits.
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Fixing the 15% Tax Bracket: Fair distribution of the tax burden.
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Extension of Flat-Rate Raises to Retirees: Fair application of all raises to all retired segments.
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Abolition of Interviews, Merit-Based Appointments: Prioritizing objective criteria and competence in public sector recruitments.
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Permanent, Secure Employment: Secure and permanent employment for all public employees.
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Equal Pay for Equal Work: Eliminating wage inequality among those doing the same job.
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Increase in Social Rights: Increasing childcare support, rent assistance, 3600 additional indicator points, and birth/family benefits.
Birleşik Kamu-İş emphasized that it will continue its struggle in line with these demands and that the voice of the workers will be decisive at the 8th Term Collective Bargaining table.