HAK-İŞ General President Arslan: "There's a Chasm Between Our Demands and Offers in KÇP, We've Decided on Action"

Ordu – Mahmut Arslan, General President of the Hak İşçi Sendikaları Konfederasyonu (HAK-İŞ), participated in the "HAK-İŞ Women's Committee Extended Presidents' Board Meeting" held in Ordu on July 6, 2025, where he made significant statements regarding working life and the country's agenda. Arslan specifically drew attention to the problems in the Public Sector Collective Bargaining Framework Agreement Protocol (KÇP) process and the protest decisions taken by the union.

In addition to General President Arslan, the meeting was attended by Fatma Zengin, Head of the HAK-İŞ Women's Committee and Assistant Secretary General; İsmail Zerey, HAK-İŞ Ordu Provincial Head; Assistant Heads of the HAK-İŞ Women's Committee; and members of the press.

"HAK-İŞ Has Decided on a Series of Actions in KÇP"

General President Mahmut Arslan stated that the KÇP process has not progressed as the union desired so far. He emphasized that the expectations of workers are very high in this process, which concerns over 600,000 public sector employees, with more than 300,000 being members of HAK-İŞ unions. Recalling that the government's offer for the first 6-month period was 17% while inflation came in at 15.6%, Arslan stressed, "The state took 12% of the wage we would receive in January as tax. Inflation took 15.6% as well. This means public employees are truly indebted in the first six months," highlighting how wages have eroded against tax brackets and inflation.

Arslan stated that a new offer is expected next week, but pointed out a huge gap between the offers made and the union's demands. In response to this situation, Arslan announced that HAK-İŞ has decided on a series of actions. Starting next week, these actions will include not eating meals in workplaces where organized, not leaving workplaces after working hours, and wearing black ribbons and masks with slogans. He added that strike decisions could be taken where strikes are permitted, and a high arbitration board process might occur in places where strikes are prohibited.

"Turkey Has the Means to Meet Workers' Expectations"

Highlighting the country's economic potential, Arslan emphasized that Turkey is growing, its national income will exceed 17,000 dollars, exports are increasing, employment is at its highest point in history, and unemployment is at its lowest level and continues to decline. Arslan stated, "Turkey has the means to meet the demands of its employees. Looking at the data given to us by the Republic of Turkey today, the government can raise these offers further."

Mahmut Arslan, referring to data from a Swiss Bank and research by international organizations, pointed out that Turkey has had one of the highest rates of wealth increase and dollar millionaires globally in the last decade. He stressed that although the share of national income received by those who live by their labor is lower than in European Union and OECD member countries, it is increasing. Arslan stated, "There is a resource available. There is a problem in sharing these resources. That's why we say to our government that we believe in this country's resources and opportunities. Yes, we have difficulties, but these difficulties are not obstacles to meeting our demands. We say to our government, please do not see our demands as very high demands. Please take the demands of public employees into account."

Arslan also underlined that some skilled workers in the private sector now earn more than public sector employees. "A collective agreement that falls behind the private sector is at hand. We hope to solve this. HAK-İŞ will continue its efforts in this regard," he said.

"The Right of Unions with Strike Rights to Decide and Implement Strikes is Also a Democratic Right"

General President Mahmut Arslan emphasized that HAK-İŞ does not want chaos, stating, "We have enough problems in Turkey. But at the point of ultimate solution to these problems, the right of our unions with strike rights to decide and implement strikes is also a democratic right. We expect the collective agreement to be signed at the table without the use of these rights. We will continue our efforts in this regard."

"HAK-İŞ Women's Committee Competes With Itself"

Arslan stated that HAK-İŞ has undertaken important work to promote women's visibility, their participation in union struggle, and to address their problems in working life. "We truly compete with ourselves in combating these problems. The HAK-İŞ Women's Committee competes with itself. We are indeed far ahead of confederations and certain civil society organizations in the same field as us, but we still have much more to do," he said.

Zengin: "We Do Substantive Work, Not Just Verbal"

Fatma Zengin, Head of the HAK-İŞ Women's Committee and Assistant Secretary General, stated that HAK-İŞ has been working on women's issues for 20 years, focusing on substantive work rather than just words. She noted that out of 5 million 353 thousand working women in Turkey, only 609 thousand are unionized, and nearly half of these, 280 thousand, are under the HAK-İŞ umbrella. Zengin highlighted that there are still 4 million 750 thousand unregistered female workers they need to reach and that HAK-İŞ is also undertaking important work to end unregistered employment.

"Our Domestic Workers Organization is a First in Turkey, and on its Way to Becoming a Model in the World"

Zengin drew attention to HAK-İŞ's pioneering work in organizing domestic workers in Turkey. She stated that through organizing efforts in 81 provinces, 61,500 unregistered female domestic workers have been reached and unionized. Zengin described this as "a first in Turkey and on its way to becoming a model in the world." She also added that work would be done to implement 6 International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, and that "2025 Family Year" was discussed.

Zerey: "We Are Representatives of an Understanding That Regards the Sweat of Both Women and Men as Sacred"

İsmail Zerey, HAK-İŞ Ordu Provincial Head and Head of the Hizmet-İş Union's Ordu Branch, expressed his satisfaction that the HAK-İŞ Women's Committee Extended Presidents' Board meeting was held in Ordu. He stated, "Today, we are here with the HAK-İŞ Women's Committee Extended Presidents' Board for a very valuable training program, both to strengthen our labor movement and to spread union awareness. We are representatives of an understanding that defends the honor of labor and regards the sweat of both women and men as sacred."

In the afternoon session of the program, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sarıtaş gave a presentation on "HAK-İŞ and Women," and Umay Ceren Doğan delivered a presentation on "Step by Step to Leadership: Towards Organized Tomorrows with Women."