Salaries melt away like a candle against inflation: Major loss in the lowest teacher salary
Evaluating the May inflation data from TUIK, Eğitim-İş announced that public employees' salaries have suffered a serious loss of value against inflation during a period when the poverty line has reached 113,845 liras. While the union projects that the civil servant raise in July 2026 will be at least 12.40 percent, it emphasized that TUIK condemns workers to low income by announcing data below the reality.
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The Education and Science Workers' Union (Eğitim-İş) has published a striking analysis regarding the rights and salary losses suffered by public employees following the May 2026 inflation data announced by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). In the statement made via the union's official social media account, it was stated that as income increase periods approach, official inflation rates are consciously shown to be far below the reality, and this situation pushes employees into a deep spiral of impoverishment.
Recalling that May inflation was realized at 1.71 percent according to TUIK data, the statement reported that the total inflation for the first 5 months of 2026 reached 16.61 percent, and the resulting inflation difference reached the level of 5.05 percent. Based on these data, it was emphasized that with the addition of the inflation difference to the 7 percent raise in the 8th Term Collective Bargaining Agreement to be implemented in July 2026, it is certain that the salary increase rate for public employees will not remain below 12.40 percent.
MONTHLY MELTDOWN IN SALARIES DEEPENS
Pointing out that the Central Bank has raised its 2026 year-end inflation forecast from 16 percent to 24 percent, the union stated that the poverty line has reached 113,845 liras. In the statement, which expressed that the purchasing power of civil servant salaries melts every month in this environment of economic crisis, the net value losses experienced according to titles were also shared. Accordingly, as of May, purchasing power declined by 15,521 liras for assistant professor salaries, 11,063 liras for technician salaries, 10,675 liras for chief salaries, 10,470 liras for the lowest teacher salary, and 9,577 liras for service staff salaries.
Emphasizing the inadequacy of the raise rates signed at the collective bargaining table, the economic management and TUIK were accused of taking a stance in favor of capital. Stating that it has become almost impossible to make a living in the country, the statement expressed that the mentality that empties the pockets of the worker and fills the coffers of the capitalist with rhetoric about the insufficiency of resources is a partner in this situation instead of preventing the income distribution injustice created by inflation.