Memur-Sen Marks Its 30th Anniversary

Memur-Sen celebrated its 30th anniversary with a major event attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who praised the confederation’s contributions to Turkish democracy and social justice.

In his speech, President Erdoğan recalled a time when religious and ideological discrimination was widespread in Türkiye, emphasizing that with the support of organizations like Memur-Sen, those oppressive times were overcome. He highlighted key achievements such as lifting headscarf bans in public institutions, granting leave for pilgrimage, and expanding freedoms for civil servants. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding these gains and promoting a more inclusive climate for all citizens.

Touching upon the upcoming 8th Public Collective Agreement negotiations, Erdoğan promised that the government would attentively consider union demands and continue to pursue equitable economic reforms benefiting public employees.

Memur-Sen President Ali Yalçın emphasized that the organization’s 30-year journey has been one of principled struggle and dedication to labor rights. He highlighted Memur-Sen’s active role in global solidarity efforts through the International Labour Confederation (ILC), as well as its swift mobilization during national disasters like earthquakes and floods. Yalçın reaffirmed Memur-Sen’s commitment to supporting the oppressed, especially in Gaza, East Turkestan, and beyond.

He also stressed the need for a new civil constitution and the revision of Law No. 4688 on public sector unions to better reflect current realities. Among the union's specific demands are the implementation of the 3600 additional indicator for all civil servants, reform of job titles and pay scales in the public sector, and efforts to close the income gap between active and retired public employees.

Minister of Labour and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the value of pluralism in the labour movement:
“Today, we have a vibrant and pluralistic union structure and a labour system where everyone can express themselves freely and find their place. This lays the foundation for building a more just and prosperous society.”