Birleşik Kamu-İş in Bursa for TİS: "It's Not the Table's Will, But the Worker's Will That Will Prevail"

Bursa – The Confederation of United Public Employees (Birleşik Kamu-İş) and its affiliated unions held a large-scale press conference in Bursa’s Fomara Square to announce their demands for the 8th Collective Bargaining Agreement (TİS) process. During the conference, the confederation's distrust of the TİS negotiation table and its firm resolve in the rightful struggle for labor were strongly emphasized.

The Voice of Labor Rises from Bursa

The event, led by Birleşik Kamu-İş President Orhan Yıldırım, was attended by Nihat Yeşiltaş, the Provincial Head of the Republican People's Party (CHP) in Bursa, Özkan Rona, the Bursa Branch President of Eğitim-İş, and numerous union members. In his speech, Yıldırım stated that they will continue their struggle against the exploitation of labor with determination, declaring, “This order cannot go on. It’s not the will of the table, but the will of the worker that will prevail.” He described Bursa as a “symbol of freedom and modernization,” underscoring the city's importance to the labor movement.

Harsh Criticism of Economic Policies and TÜİK

In his address, Yıldırım targeted the economic policies of the current government, stating, “The government that has been running the country for 23 years has condemned the people to hunger, destitution, and poverty.” Arguing that policies protecting capital are crushing the worker, Yıldırım declared, “The time has come to say stop to this order.”

One of Yıldırım's harshest criticisms was directed at the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK). He claimed that the inflation data announced by TÜİK does not reflect reality, accusing the institution of "operating like the palace’s accounting department." He stated that this situation presents a picture that is completely disconnected from the reality experienced by public employees.

No Trust in the TİS Table, Emphasis on the Right to Strike

Yıldırım argued that past collective bargaining processes have been "nothing but a game," criticizing the "so-called authorized confederations" for representing the government's demands for years. He stated that if the rights of public employees are not genuinely defended at the table, then that table is "empty," and they will not allow this game to continue.

Birleşik Kamu-İş's 8th Term TİS Demands

At the end of his speech, Orhan Yıldırım listed the confederation's core demands, announcing that their struggle will continue until the rights of public employees are secured. The main demands of Birleşik Kamu-İş are as follows:

• Fair Income Distribution: Ensuring fair income distribution by raising salaries above the poverty line.

• Right to Strike: Recognition of the right to strike, which is one of the most important rights in collective bargaining.

• Retirement Pensions: Reflecting additional payments in retirement pensions and improving the living standards of retirees.

• Emphasis on Merit: Abolishing the interview system in the appointment process and making merit the basis for fair appointments.

• Rent Support: Providing rent support for public employees, especially those living in major cities.