ANKARA – The persistent efforts and diplomatic initiatives of Sağlık-Sen have paid off: the demands for reciprocal transfers (becayiş) for inter-university administrative staff and 3+1 status healthcare workers have been met. The lateral transfer process is set to begin after the Eid holiday.
The Becayiş Door Has Opened: Sağlık-Sen's Initiatives Bear Fruit
Following Sağlık-Sen's prolonged and intensive struggle, coupled with diplomatic initiatives, the demands for reciprocal transfers (becayiş) from inter-university administrative staff and 3+1 status healthcare professionals serving under the Ministry of Health have been answered. According to a statement by YÖK Secretary General Batıkan Aksoy, the reciprocal transfer process for university administrative staff will commence on the first working day after the Eid holiday.
To bring the demand for transfers to the public agenda, Sağlık-Sen, under the leadership of its University Commission, organized successive meetings and intensified its contacts with YÖK (Council of Higher Education), the Presidency, and relevant ministries.
General President Mahmut Faruk Doğan stated that a "University Hospitals Transfer Demand Collection Platform" was established, and the data gathered from this platform was directly shared with YÖK President Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar and his deputies. This data was then evaluated by YÖK and presented to the Presidency.
After YÖK forwarded the study to the Presidency, a Sağlık-Sen delegation met with Hakkı Susmaz, Head of Administrative Affairs of the Presidency, and Bilal Şentürk, General Director of Personnel and Principles, to re-emphasize the importance of the issue.
A similar platform was created for 3+1 status healthcare workers serving in the Ministry of Health. Through this platform, transfer demands were collected and submitted to the Presidency and relevant institutions. Both Sağlık-Sen members and all 3+1 status personnel benefited from these initiatives.
Sağlık-Sen's call on January 3, 2025, "Let This Be Over!", served as an indicator of the resolute conduct of the process. The union maintained shuttle diplomacy by keeping the process alive through visits to YÖK and the Presidency.
General President Doğan remarked, "Sağlık-Sen's and Memur-Sen's determined struggle has been decisive in reaching this stage. Family reunification and ensuring healthcare workers receive their human rights are our priority."
All eyes are now on the post-Eid period. In line with the information to be shared with universities, the lateral transfer process for thousands of public personnel will officially begin. This significant achievement by Sağlık-Sen has been recorded as a historic step for both its members and all public employees.