Eğitim-İş General Secretary Seher Ergin reacts to the government's first salary increase offer for civil servants

The government's first offer in the 8th term collective bargaining negotiations for civil servants has been announced. Regarding the offer announced by Minister Işıkhan—10 percent for the first 6 months of 2026, 6 percent for the second 6 months, 4 percent for the first 6 months of 2027, and 4 percent for the second 6 months—Eğitim-İş Union General Secretary Seher Ergin stated, "These rates, which do not even reach half of the actual inflation, are a clear disrespect to labor and sweat. We do not accept this imposition of misery."

In a statement on her social media account, Ergin said, "Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan announced the government's first salary increase offer in the 8th term collective bargaining negotiations. Accordingly: 10 percent for the first 6 months of 2026, 6 percent for the second 6 months, 4 percent for the first 6 months of 2027, and 4 percent for the second 6 months.

The announced rates are disconnected from economic realities and the deep cost-of-living crisis experienced by the public," she said.

Stating that "at a time when rent, food, energy, and transportation prices have increased exorbitantly, this offer means condemning the employee to hunger and debt," Eğitim-İş General Secretary Seher Ergin continued as follows:

"These rates, which do not even reach half of the actual inflation, are a clear disrespect to labor and sweat. We do not accept this imposition of misery!

We will not remain silent, we will not back down until we receive what is rightfully ours. We will raise our voices in the fields, in workplaces, and in public squares; we will continue our struggle with the organized power of labor until this table is set in favor of the worker, the civil servant, and the retiree. As the producers of this country, we say 'Enough!' to those who deem a life below the hunger threshold appropriate for us."

News Source: 12punto