İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Cemil Tugay announced that the ongoing collective bargaining negotiations between the municipality and DİSK have ended without a result.
Tugay stated that they had increased their offers by pushing the municipality's economic conditions to the limit, but that the union's demands were unacceptable.
Mayor Tugay said, "I returned from Ankara today and held the meetings. Exceeding the figures we had previously discussed, we proposed a 30% increase for the first six months and a 19% increase for the second six months. Regarding fringe benefits, we maintained other rights, excluding attendance and medical report bonuses. However, I am uncomfortable with the attitude I encountered during the negotiation process."
Tugay emphasized that he tried to explain the economic conditions the municipality is in and that he wanted the people of İzmir not to sign an agreement that would put the municipality in a difficult position. "DİSK representatives are using expressions that reek of politics. This situation makes it difficult for us to understand who is involved in this with what kind of political intent," he added.
The Mayor stated that the municipality needs a budget for services and that employees' salaries must be paid regularly, adding, "We pushed our limits to establish this balance. However, the union needs to see the conditions of Turkey and İzmir and not put the public in a difficult situation," he said.
Tugay stated that the proposed figures were at a level that no union had accepted until now, and said, "We see groups before us that have intentions beyond a mere union agreement. The political statements reflected to the public are known to everyone. I am trying to serve our people," he expressed.
Upon the deadlock in the negotiations, Tugay announced that the process had ended, saying, "This situation is very dramatic. I saw a group making an effort to make an agreement difficult. I leave this situation to the discretion of our employees who pin their hopes on unions and to the people of İzmir. As far as I am concerned, the path for negotiation with these individuals is closed."
News Source: 12punto
