18.08.2025 15:55
As no results were achieved from the collective bargaining negotiations between the government and civil servants and retired civil servants, the civil servants went on a nationwide strike. Particularly in transportation, train services were halted in İzmir, Aydın, Denizli, Zonguldak, and Karabük due to the protests. In some land registry offices, it was observed that civil servants did not come to work.
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The collective bargaining process for civil servants and retired civil servants has not yet reached an agreement. Civil servants, who find the government's salary increase proposals insufficient, are staging a strike today.
2 PROPOSALS WERE NOT ACCEPTED
In the government's first proposal, a 10% increase was offered for the first half of 2026, a 6% increase for the second half, and a 4% increase for both halves of 2027. After the proposal was not accepted by Memur-Sen, the government made a new salary increase proposal on Friday. Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan announced that they proposed an additional increase of 1000 lira to the base salary after the interim negotiations held on Friday. However, this proposal was also deemed insufficient by civil servant representatives, leading to the decision to strike.
TRAIN SERVICES WERE DISRUPTED IN SOME CITIES
Following the strike initiated by workers in the transportation service sector, İzmir's suburban train service İZBAN canceled its services for today.
In a statement made on the social media account of İZBAN, a company of X, it was emphasized: "Due to the one-day strike that civil servants will carry out across our country, we must state that we have had to cancel our services all day on Monday, August 18, 2025."
Additionally, train services in Aydın, Denizli, Zonguldak, and Karabük under TCDD Taşımacılık were canceled due to the strike.
İZBAN SERVICES RESUMED AT NOON
In a statement made at noon by İZBAN, which could not operate morning services, it was stated: "Due to the one-day civil servant strike experienced nationwide, our canceled services have resumed operations in accordance with the decision taken by UÇMS, BTS, and Turkish Transportation-Sen."
LAND REGISTRY OFFICES WERE LEFT EMPTY
The Bayındır, Environment, Construction, Road, AFAD, Land Registry and Cadastre Workers Union (Bayındır Memur-Sen) also announced that a strike was being implemented in land registry offices. In a statement made on social media, Bayındır Memur-Sen shared images of empty land registry offices, saying, "We have gone on strike, we have stopped life. Our land registry offices responded to our call for a strike!"
UNIONS ARE REACTING TO THE PROPOSAL
Unions stated that they found the salary rates and social rights proposals presented by the Public Employer Delegation insufficient. In similar statements from confederations, it was emphasized that "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
- Turkey Public-Sen
- State Civil Servants Confederation
- United Public-Workers
- Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK)
- Independent Confederation of Public Officials' Unions
- Workers' Union
- Confederation of Public Employees' Rights Unions
- YURT-Sen
- Engineers 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, 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 CIVIL SERVANTS WANT?
As Memur-Sen, they are proposing a 10% share of welfare for the first half of 2026, a salary increase of 10,000 lira for the base salary, a 25% proportional increase, and a 20% proportional increase for the second half. For the first half of 2027, they are demanding a salary increase of 7,500 lira for the base salary, a 20% proportional increase, and a 15% increase for the second half.
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