Statement on 'minimum wage' from Türk-İş President Ergün Atalay, who represents workers

With only a few days left until the minimum wage figure, which millions are waiting for, is announced, Türk-İş President Ergün Atalay, who represents the workers, said, "What we are saying is that it will be 'a figure to live humanely'."

Türk-İş President Ergün Atalay explained his thoughts on the minimum wage negotiations and whether they have achieved any results from the rallies, sit-in protests, and regional meetings they have held to Saygı Öztürk from Sözcü:

HUMANE WAGE

"As union presidents, we come together and talk. What we are saying is that it will be 'a figure to live humanely'. Now everyone is throwing out a figure as they please. Politicians and bosses are talking. One says 20, another 30, someone else says 40-50 thousand. If Türk-İş also says '40 thousand liras' as the demand of our brothers and sisters working for minimum wage, people will say, 'Good for the Türk-İş President, he asked for 40 thousand liras.' But would it happen? No. Would there be room for negotiation? No. Then the government and the bosses would sit down. This situation strengthens the bosses' hand. If Türk-İş gives a figure at the beginning, employer unions immediately take a stance, saying, 'In any case, Türk-İş will not go below this.' Then the government and the employer union act as they please. We take this situation into account. That is why, instead of specifying a figure, we will say 'a wage that people can live humanely on.' It is clear what that is."

'WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED A TANGIBLE POSITIVE RESPONSE'

"We gathered 150 thousand people at our rally in Ankara. Neither the AKP nor the CHP can gather this many. Despite the actions we have taken, we have not received a tangible positive response from the government to date. As three confederations, we did what was expected of us, and we will continue to do so until we get results.

Public sector collective bargaining agreements begin in January. We will do whatever is necessary within the framework of the law during the contract negotiations. We will neither sit down, nor talk, nor sign a meeting that the public is not satisfied with. I did that yesterday, I did it before that, and I will do the same again.

'I WILL NOT TAKE A SINGLE STEP BACK FROM THE STRUGGLE'

The government must be hearing our voice. But our country's state television does not report our news; however, the 150 thousand people who attended our rally go to their provinces, districts, and villages. They also have mothers, fathers, siblings, and children. Everyone in every corner of Turkey knows everything. I will not take a single step back from the struggle. I will not become a minister, a businessman, or a rich man. I will do what is necessary."