13.07.2026 20:40
Public workers who are members of Tüm Yerel-Sen and work in critical units such as firefighting, municipal police, and road maintenance at IBB gathered in front of the administrative building in Saraçhane to protest the failure to meet their social balance contract demands. Speaking on behalf of the group, Tüm Yerel-Sen General President Sezgin Sevinç stated that their bonuses were withheld under the pretext of embezzlement and investigations, and said they would not accept IBB employees, who rush to help during disasters, being forced into a contract lower than those in other provinces.
Members of the All Local Government Employees Union (All Local-Sen), affiliated with the United Public Workers Confederation, who work in different units of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) such as firefighting, police, and road maintenance, held a protest on the grounds that their demands in the social balance contract were not met.
BANNERS WERE UNFURLED, SLOGANS WERE SHOUTED
The group, who gathered in front of the IBB Headquarters Building in Saraçhane and unfurled a banner reading "Don't stall the workers, give back our rights," shouted slogans.
Speaking to the press on behalf of the group, All Local-Sen General President Sezgin Sevinç said they had gathered to discuss the social balance contract and protect their children's future.
"WE WILL TOGETHER OBTAIN THE RIGHTS THAT ISTANBUL METROPOLITAN MUNICIPALITY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DESERVE"
Sevinç said, "We have gathered here today not only to discuss the social balance contract but also to protect our children's future. Today, we are gathered with the pride of being the authorized union after 32 years. We thank all the workers who authorized us after 32 years. With your support and determined struggle, we will together obtain the rights that Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality public employees deserve. Although our demands are very reasonable and realistic, our rightful collective bargaining agreement and rightful bonuses are not given each time, being swept under the rug with excuses of embezzlement and investigation. While no embezzlement is cited for the much higher collective bonuses paid in district municipalities or other provinces, we never accept the largest municipality in Turkey hiding behind excuses of embezzlement and legal proceedings," he stated.
"WE DO NOT ACCEPT A LOW COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT"
Stating that as workers who selflessly labor through sleepless nights, they do not accept a collective bargaining agreement lower than those in the provinces they aid, Sevinç said, "As Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality employees, we are not just workers serving 16 million Istanbul residents. We are the first to set out and respond wherever an earthquake, flood, fire, or other disaster occurs in our country. As workers who selflessly labor amid rubble, flames, rain, and mud through sleepless nights, we do not accept a collective bargaining agreement lower than that of the provinces we go to help. IBB workers, who shoulder Istanbul's burden, want not privilege but the justice constantly mentioned in the field, on site, in the squares. No one can turn the sweat of our labor and our children's livelihood into the price of political debates. Shame on those who covet the rights of a worker who took home two Ramadan food parcels during Ramadan. Shame on those who covet the bonus of a worker who sacrificed an animal to fulfill their religious duty during Eid al-Adha. Shame on those who covet our children's livelihood," he said.
Sevinç stated they would remain in the squares until they received their rights.
Source: AA / IHA