Strike signal from TÜRK-İŞ: Date announced

Finding the government's wage increase offer insufficient in the collective bargaining negotiations concerning more than 600 thousand public workers, the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) marched from Anıtpark to the front of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Workers expressed their reactions with banners reading, "Workers have been reduced to needing onions," "We are not the cause of inflation," and "Şimşek, take your hands off my bread."

STRIKE DATE FROM ERGÜN ATALAY

Making a statement in front of the Ministry, TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay said that a strike has now become a necessity. Stating that some unions will be forced to make a strike decision within 15 days, Atalay said, "Railway-İş, Energy, Highways, Miners, Machinery and Chemical Industry... Workers in all these fields must announce their strike decisions by early July at the latest."

Pointing out that public workers receive salaries just above the minimum wage, Atalay emphasized that the average wage is 35 thousand liras. Saying, "We are present in every field of the country," Atalay spoke as follows:

"You will build submarines, you will build aircraft, you are in communications, you are in energy. You are in every field of the country, and the salary is 35,000 liras. It is shameful, it is a sin, it is a pity."

In his statement, Atalay also used the following expressions:

"We will not leave here today. Union presidents and titled executives, we will stay here tonight. Tomorrow, we will announce the action plan at the TÜRK-İŞ Congress Hall."

REACTION TO THE GOVERNMENT'S WAGE OFFER

The wage increase rates proposed by the government within the scope of the collective bargaining agreement caused great disappointment for public workers. The Ministry of Labor and Social Security offered a 16 percent increase for the first 6 months of the first year and an 8 percent increase for the second 6 months. TÜRK-İŞ announced that these rates mean ignoring public workers in the face of the cost of living and are unacceptable.

While announcing that they will reveal the action plan to be implemented next week, TÜRK-İŞ emphasized that the public and authorities must hear this voice. Stating, "We are both negotiating and struggling. But we no longer have the strength to endure," Atalay demanded that their requests be heeded.

News Source: 12punto