Birleşik Kamu-İş and Eğitim-İş Deliver a Warning Shot in Front of MoNE: "The 8th Term Will Be the Workers' Say, Not Your Table's!"

Ankara – Tensions are rising in the eagerly anticipated 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations for public employees. The Birleşik Kamu-İş Confederation, aiming to voice its concerns about the perceived unfairness of this process and to loudly express the demands of education workers in particular, held a striking press statement in front of the Ministry of National Education (MoNE). The Confederation, with the slogan "The 8th Term will be what the #worker says, not your table's word!", sent a clear message that the union struggle will be shaped directly by the will of the workers, not by discussions behind closed doors.

Emphasis on Union Democracy in Front of MoNE

In Ankara, capital city, executives of the Birleşik Kamu-İiş Confederation, members of the Eğitim-İş Union, and numerous education workers gathered in front of the Ministry of National Education building to draw attention to the deadlock in the 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations. In the press statement, allegations were raised that the economic and social rights expectations of education workers were being ignored, and that authorized unions were failing to demonstrate a sufficiently strong stance at the negotiation table. The gathering in front of the MoNE aimed to address the direct counterpart and demonstrate the seriousness of their demands.

Eğitim-İş's Harsh Criticism of the Worrying Situation

Eğitim-İş Union officials emphasized that education workers are facing a severe struggle for survival amidst a deepening economic crisis, rising inflation, and inadequate wage increases. The statement included phrases such as, "Education workers are not receiving the fair compensation for their labor; they are forced to live below the poverty line." The union demanded concrete steps for the improvement of teachers' and other education workers' personal rights, the restoration of their professional dignity, the provision of secure employment, and critical issues like supplementary indicators. It was underlined that improving the quality of education is only possible with happy and secure employees.

"The 8th Term Will Be the Workers' Say, Not Your Table's!" Motto

The most striking statement in the press release was the slogan, "The 8th Term will be what the #worker says, not your table's word!" This slogan conveyed the message that union negotiations should not merely turn into a bureaucratic formality, but that the true determinant should be the collective will and demands of the workers on the ground. With this motto, Birleşik Kamu-İş clearly indicated their determination to escalate the struggle to broader fronts if the workers' expectations are not met at the negotiation table. This was a warning that the union is resolved to defend its members' rights to the fullest and will not hesitate to use legitimate means of struggle if necessary.

Birleşik Kamu-İş's Call for Unity Among Public Employees

The Birleşik Kamu-İş Confederation stated that it fights for the rights of all public employees, not just Eğitim-İş members, and drew attention to the importance of unity and solidarity in this process. The Confederation emphasized that public employees, by uniting against common problems, can make their voices heard louder and achieve their rightful demands. It was noted that the 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations are of vital importance for public employees, and the steps taken in this process will directly affect the living standards of millions of people.

With this press statement, Birleşik Kamu-İş and Eğitim-İş signaled that they will increase their actions if their expectations are not met during the 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations. The eyes and ears of public employees will be on the statements and steps to be taken in the upcoming period.