Memur-Sen Demonstrates at the Ministry of Treasury and Finance

Memur-Sen organized a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance to protest the 11.54% salary increase for public sector employees. Reiterating the union’s demand for a 15% wage hike and a 10% welfare share, Memur-Sen President Ali Yalçın emphasized that the government’s pledge to “shield public employees from inflation” has been effectively abandoned. 

Advocacy for Additional Adjustments and Welfare Enhancements

The Memur-Sen leadership, along with public employees and retirees, assembled to voice their objections to the 11.54% salary adjustment for the first half of 2025 and to advocate for supplementary increases and welfare improvements.

In his address, President Ali Yalçın highlighted the deteriorating purchasing power of public employees, pointing to the suspension of commitments to protect workers against inflation:

“We are living in a time when the promise to shield incomes from inflationary pressures has been shelved. Public expectations are growing, yet measures to address these expectations are dwindling. That is why we are here today, to protest against the insufficient 11.54% salary adjustment with the declaration, ‘Our Income Stagnates, Our Needs Escalate’.

The annual inflation rate stands at 44.38%, but we all recognize that the actual cost-of-living increase far exceeds this figure. Fixed-income earners cannot reconcile the official inflation rate with their lived experiences of skyrocketing expenses. Over the past year, natural gas costs rose by 60%, electricity and fuel by 40%, and food and household goods by at least 100%. Meanwhile, bread prices increased by 25% since the beginning of the year, and rents are anticipated to rise by at least 60%. Interpreting the financial struggles of fixed-income individuals as a mere 44% inflation rate is out of touch with reality.” 

“Arbitration Committee Failed to Deliver Justice”

President Yalçın underscored that Memur-Sen had foreseen these challenges and repeatedly articulated its demands during the 7th Term Collective Bargaining process. However, he criticized the Public Employer’s proposals for lacking alignment with market realities and inflation forecasts:

“This is why we did not endorse the agreement and officially recorded our objections to the decisions of both the employer and the Arbitration Committee. We advocated that public employees and retirees should not bear the brunt of inflation, and salary adjustments should be determined through negotiations, not inflation differentials.

Unfortunately, the Arbitration Committee acted as a notary rather than a decision-making body. It observed and acknowledged the challenges but failed to deliver fair and effective resolutions. This has resulted in significant hardship for millions of public employees and their families.

If our proposal for a 15% wage increase and 10% welfare share for the first half of 2025 had been implemented, these grievances would not exist, and public employees would not have been compelled to raise their voices in protest.” 

Fair Taxation: A Pillar of Income Justice

Yalçın also called for reforms in the taxation system, highlighting its disproportionate impact on public employees:

“Public employees should not be perceived as a financial burden but rather as essential contributors to public service. Decision-makers must adopt this perspective. To address the erosion of purchasing power, we demand the restoration of lost income, the allocation of welfare shares, and immediate corrective measures.

The path to income justice lies in fair taxation. The current system imposes undue burdens on fixed-income earners, with even minimum wage earners subjected to higher tax brackets. How can this be considered equitable? We propose capping income tax rates for public employees at 15% and abolishing mechanisms that erode salary adjustments. The tax system must shift from perpetuating inequity to fostering fairness and economic balance.” 

“Restore Integrity in Collective Bargaining”

President Yalçın concluded by emphasizing the importance of implementing collective bargaining agreements in their entirety and called for revisions to the existing legal framework:

“Memur-Sen and its affiliated unions have repeatedly protested before the Ministry of Treasury and Finance regarding the non-implementation and restriction of collective bargaining provisions. Obstructing these provisions, which are constitutionally protected and guaranteed by law, is both unprecedented and unacceptable.

The Public Employer’s primary responsibility is to fully implement agreed-upon provisions. Delays and restrictions undermine the credibility of collective bargaining and the trust of public employees. To prevent further erosion of this trust, we urge an immediate end to practices that hinder the implementation of agreements, particularly those related to protective clothing and overtime pay.”

Yalçın reiterated Memur-Sen’s commitment to advocating for public employees’ rights and called on policymakers to demonstrate the will and determination to enact fair and equitable reforms.