Civil servant salary negotiations continue: Third meeting to be held tomorrow

The Public Arbitration Board has stepped in following the failure to reach an agreement in the 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations, which will determine the salary increases for millions of civil servants and retirees. The board, which held its first meeting yesterday, met for the second time today.

The meeting began at 11:00 AM and concluded without a decision on a salary increase. The third meeting will be held tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

GOVERNMENT'S SALARY OFFERS

The government proposed a 10 percent increase for the first half of 2026 and 6 percent for the second half, while offering a 4 percent increase for both halves of 2027. In the second offer made on August 15, an increase of 1,000 TL to the base salary was proposed. Finally, on August 18, a proposal of 11 percent + 7 percent for 2026 and 4 percent + 4 percent for 2027 was submitted.

MEMUR-SEN'S DEMANDS

Memur-Sen demanded a 10,000 lira increase to the base salary for 2026, a 10 percent welfare share, and a 25 percent increase for the first 6 months. For 2027, it requested a 7,500 lira base salary increase, along with a 20 percent increase for the first 6 months and 15 percent for the second 6 months. The union's total demand amounted to an 88 percent raise for 2026 and 47 percent for 2027.

FINALITY OF THE DECISION

The decision to be made by the Public Arbitration Board will be final, and the parties will not have the right to appeal this decision. While Memur-Sen decided not to take the meeting minutes to the board due to the failure to reach a consensus, the Public Employer Delegation had moved the process to the Arbitration Board.

News Source: 12punto