Affecting 600 thousand people: What is the latest status in the wage negotiations?

The Public Collective Bargaining Framework Protocol negotiations, held to determine the 2025 wage increases for approximately 600,000 public sector workers, are ongoing. The Turkish Heavy Industry and Service Sector Public Employers' Union (TÜHİS), which represents public employers, plans to present its first offer to the labor side in the coming days.

NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEGUN

Negotiations within the scope of this protocol, which concerns public workers, began on February 27. The negotiations, conducted for workers employed in numerous public institutions such as highways, railways, energy production facilities, ministries, universities, and hospitals, gained momentum after the Ministry of Labor and Social Security conveyed the joint wage demand of TÜRK-İŞ and HAK-İŞ. Agreement has been reached on a large portion of the administrative articles.

DEMANDS OF THE LABOR SIDE

The labor side is demanding that the daily gross base wage be increased to 1,800 liras for 2025. In addition, there is a proposal for a 50 percent raise in the first six months of 2025 and a 25 percent increase in the second six months, along with a demand for a 10 percent welfare share. These demands are being subjected to cost analysis by TÜHİS, and the employer side is expected to announce its first offer once the analyses are completed.

BARGAINING PROCESS TO ACCELERATE

Following the presentation of the offer by TÜHİS, the bargaining process between the parties is expected to accelerate. Determining the wage increase rates is of critical importance not only for public workers but for a broad segment of the workforce.

The contract process conducted with public workers may also affect collective bargaining agreements in the private sector. The results of this protocol could determine the course of significant agreements such as the Turkish Employers' Association of Metal Industries (MESS) Group Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Furthermore, the 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations, which concern approximately 4 million civil servants and 2.5 million retired civil servants, will begin as of August 1.