30.07.2025 14:36
TÜRK-İŞ has decided to go on strike after failing to reach an agreement in the 2025-2026 Public Collective Bargaining negotiations. The first announcement was posted at the General Directorate of Highways, and strike notifications will be sent to approximately 500 more public institutions. TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay expressed his reaction to the government by stating, "Our purchasing power has decreased; there will be no plundering."
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As the negotiations for the Public Collective Labor Agreements Framework Protocol covering the years 2025 and 2026 could not reach an agreement with the government, the Turkish Confederation of Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) implemented the strike decision. The first strike announcement was posted at the General Directorate of Highways (KGM). Union officials announced that strike announcements would be posted at approximately 500 more public institutions in the coming days.
INFORMATION WILL BE PROVIDED AT WORKPLACES
In the statement made, it was reported that the strike decisions would be announced in accordance with the legal timetable, and that information and organization activities would continue in workplaces during this process. The details of the strike implementation are expected to be shared with the public in the coming days.
ATALAY: I AM THE ICEBREAKER OF THE WORKER MOVEMENT
The President of TÜRK-İŞ, Ergün Atalay, used strong expressions in his statement regarding the process. Criticizing some unions for remaining silent by reducing their authority, Atalay said, "They tell us to 'go on a general strike,' we will go when the time comes. There are unions that reduce their authority outside of us; the strike day has come, they reduce their authority. They don’t open their mouths. They have 250-300 thousand workers, but they don’t speak. I am the icebreaker of the worker movement in this country," he said.
"THEY SAY 'THE ECONOMY HAS IMPROVED' ON TELEVISION, BUT..."
Touching on economic conditions, Atalay drew attention to the increasing cost of living, stating, "It has been 2 years since the Minister of Finance came. Previously, you used to fill up 1 tank of gasoline, now you fill up 3 tanks. They say on television that 'the economy has improved,' but do you feel it in the market? I don’t feel it. Our purchasing power has decreased," he expressed.
"THERE IS NO SUCH LOOTING"
Responding harshly to criticisms regarding salaries, Atalay said, "They say, 'You earn 35-40 thousand lira, that's a lot of money.' Shame on them. Rent is 25 thousand lira, lemon is 25 lira, water is 80 lira, lahmacun is 350 lira. They say, 'Whatever we say will happen.' There is no such looting," he stated.
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