Memur-Sen demands 'welfare share' for public servants: 'We do not accept this raise'

Ali Yalçın, Chairman of the Confederation of Public Servants Trade Unions (Memur-Sen), held a press conference at the headquarters with the chairmen of the unions affiliated with the confederation.

Reminding that December inflation was announced at 1.03 percent and annual inflation at 44.38 percent, Yalçın stated that the 6-month inflation was 15.75 percent and the inflation difference was 5.23 percent, and said the following:

"Following the failure to reach an agreement in the 7th Term Collective Bargaining, a 6 percent raise was decided for January 2025 by the Arbitration Board's decision. In this case, the increase rate for retired public servants appears to be 11.54 percent. The revaluation rate determined by the state for its receivables is 43.93 percent as of January 1. Furthermore, in the 1-year period, the rent increase rate has reached 58.51 percent, the natural gas increase rate 60 percent, and fuel and electricity have reached 40 percent."

"WE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS RAISE"

Pointing out that planned price increases are made in markets before salaries are increased, Yalçın stated that workers are exposed to price hikes on shelves before they even receive their salaries.

Yalçın noted that the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (TCMB) announced its inflation forecast for 2025 as 21 percent, saying, "At best, the realization rate is 30 percent. When we were conducting the collective bargaining, the inflation they expected for 2024 was 33 percent. They updated it immediately after the collective bargaining ended. The figure that followed is now clear. The raise deemed appropriate for public servants by the Arbitration Board for 2025 is 6+5 percent. We do not accept this raise."

Stating that the reality of inflation must be seen, Yalçın continued:

"We had proposed 15 percent for the first period of 2025. We had asked for a 10 percent welfare share for 2 years. At this point, as of January 2025, it should have started with a 15 percent salary increase and a 10 percent welfare share. The situation proves the accuracy of our proposals. While salaries should be increased to a fair and reasonable level as inflation rises, we cannot make sense of the insistence on the mistake of 'let's suppress salaries to reduce inflation'."

Emphasizing that income tax injustice is an area as problematic as salary increases, Yalçın said, "The income tax system should be regulated fairly, and the income tax for public duties should be fixed at 15 percent."

Stating that the announced figures are inexplicable, Yalçın said, "This January should begin with the 15 percent raise and 10 percent welfare share that we brought to the collective bargaining table as our first 6-month proposal. Therefore, a welfare share must be granted to civil servants and retired civil servants as soon as possible."

Yalçın announced that they will gather in front of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance on January 7 to once again voice their demands for the compensation of their losses, the full implementation of collective bargaining provisions, and the granting of a welfare share.