18.08.2025 16:27
In protest of the government's wage offer during the 8th term collective bargaining negotiations, Memur-Sen, Kamu-Sen, Birleşik Kamu-İş, and KESK decided to go on strike today. Following this decision, the first cancellation news came from İZBAN. All services of İZBAN, İzmir's urban rail transportation network, have been canceled.
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The 8th Term Collective Bargaining negotiations regarding the salaries, social rights, and working conditions of public employees have entered a tense phase. Unions, which found the wage proposals presented by the Public Employer Delegation insufficient, announced that they would hold a one-day strike across Turkey today.
THE LAST OFFER WAS ALSO REJECTED
In the wage proposal presented by the Public Employer Delegation, a 10% increase was foreseen for the first six months of 2026, a 6% increase for the second six months, and a 4% increase for both six-month periods in 2027. Additionally, the proposal for a 1,000 TL increase in the base salary was not accepted by the confederations during the second meeting.
THEY DECIDED TO STRIKE
In response, Memur-Sen, Kamu-Sen, Birleşik Kamu-İş, and KESK decided to hold a strike and organize protest activities on Monday, August 18, 2025 (today).
UNIONS REACT TO THE PROPOSAL
The unions stated that they found the wage rates and social rights proposals presented by the Public Employer Delegation insufficient. Similar statements from the confederations included, "It is essential to strengthen negotiations to protect public employees against economic conditions, provide a share of welfare in addition to the inflation difference, and improve working conditions."
HERE ARE THE CONFEDERATIONS THAT DECIDED TO STRIKE
- Memur-Sen
- Türkiye Kamu-Sen
- State Employees Confederation
- Birleşik Kamu-İş
- Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK)
- Independent Confederation of Public Officials' Unions
- Çalışan Sen
- Confederation of Public Employees' Rights Unions
- YURT-Sen
- Engineer Tek-Sen Confederation
- Union of Public Employees Working in Military Workplaces (Asim-Sen)
EYES ON THE LAST MEETING
The meeting scheduled for August 19, following the unions' strike action, is of critical importance. In this meeting, either an agreement will be reached, or the process will be taken to the Arbitration Board.
WHAT DO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES WANT
As Memur-Sen, they are proposing a 10% welfare share for the first six months of 2026, an increase of 10,000 TL in the base salary, a 25% proportional increase, and a 20% proportional increase for the second six months. For the first six months of 2027, they are demanding an increase of 7,500 TL in the base salary, a 20% proportional increase, and a 15% increase for the second six months.
THE FIRST CANCELLATION CAME FROM İZBAN
Following this decision, services were canceled in İZBAN, the urban rail transportation network in İzmir. In a statement from İZBAN, it was emphasized that "Due to the one-day strike action that public employees will carry out in our country, TCDD employees will also not report to work. Therefore, we must emphasize that we have had to cancel our services throughout the day on Monday, August 18, 2025."
İZBAN SERVICES RESUMED IN THE AFTERNOON
In a statement made by İZBAN in the afternoon, after the morning services could not be operated, it was stated, "In accordance with the decision taken by UÇMS, BTS, and Turkish Transportation Sen, our canceled services due to the one-day public employee action across our country have started operating."
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