As the countdown for civil servants nears its end, they declare 'We do not want to settle' and announce their salary increase demands

TÜRK Eğitim-Sen Chairman Talip Geylan, accompanied by Deputy Chairman Erhan Bayram, attended a consultation meeting organized by his union's Yozgat Branch. At the meeting, which was also attended by Yozgat branch board members as well as district and university representatives, Geylan emphasized that civil servant salaries are insufficient and that a welfare share must be provided.

HE SPOKE OF 'CAPTIVITY'

Delivering a speech at the meeting, Geylan stated that public employees are under union tutelage, saying, 'Those who will save public life from this captivity and tutelage are you, it is Türk Eğitim-Sen, it is Türkiye Kamu-Sen.'

SALARY INCREASE RATE IS BELOW TARGETED INFLATION

Claiming that existing unions do not properly represent public employees, Geylan said, 'The government says, "We are not and will not let our civil servants and retirees be crushed by inflation." Is it really so? Look, on January 15, we will receive our salary increases at a rate of 6 percent. In 2025, the salary increase rate for public employees is 6 percent for the first six months and 5 percent for the second six months, a cumulative 11.3 percent. The targeted inflation rate for the end of 2025 is 17.5 percent. For the first time, the salary increase rate given to public employees is below the target inflation set by the government. I ask; an inflation expectation of 17.5 percent, and a salary increase rate of 11.3 percent for civil servants and retirees. How does this happen? It is possible thanks to a so-called authorized union that does not represent the authority it received from public employees properly at the negotiating table.'

CALLING FOR A "REAL RAISE," HE ANNOUNCED THEIR DEMANDS

Stating that civil servants and retirees only receive raises equal to inflation, Geylan said, 'On January 15, in addition to the 6 percent salary increase, we will also receive an inflation adjustment. However, settling for the inflation adjustment only means giving a raise equal to inflation. This is effectively a zero raise. A real raise is only possible with the addition of a welfare share on top of the inflation adjustment. Therefore, come on, do not settle for the inflation adjustment on January 15, do not deceive civil servants and retirees; if you truly do not want us to be crushed by inflation, make the welfare share practice permanent. Furthermore, to avoid economic losses, the inflation adjustment should be reflected in salaries on a monthly basis.'

DEMANDED AN ADDITIONAL RAISE

Listing other measures that must be taken to ensure the purchasing power of civil servants and retirees does not decline further in 2025, Geylan noted the following:

“An additional raise must be provided to compensate for the losses of civil servants and retirees.

To ensure that civil servant salary increases do not fall below the inflation targets set in the Medium-Term Program (OVP), salary hikes should be adjusted to at least the level of realized inflation, and the 4 percent growth rate targeted in the OVP should be reflected in the salaries of retirees and employees.

As is known, public employees are the segment that pays their taxes most regularly in our country. Despite this, because the tax bracket rises from the second half of the year, public employees barely receive the same salary they earned in the first six months. This brings injustice with it. At this point, our state should protect public employees and fix income tax rates at 15 percent.

The Auxiliary Services Class should be provided with a one-time adjustment of their staff status based on their work and education.

Public employees do not want to retire because their salaries drop by half upon retirement. To both encourage retirement and create employment for our young brothers and sisters, the salaries of our retirees must absolutely be improved. At this point, our demand is for additional payments to be reflected in retirement benefits.”

News Source: İHA