17.04.2025 17:22
Private public bus drivers working for IETT protested in front of the İBB building in Saraçhane because they had not received their payments. Carrying banners, the drivers said, "We will set up our POS devices. Please do not use Istanbulkart. We will collect payments with our personal POS devices. We do not want to inconvenience you to ensure that transportation does not stop. We have given İBB a deadline until the end of the month."
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The rebellion of private public bus drivers, who announced that they would shut down operations claiming they have receivables of 5-6 billion TL, continues. The drivers protested today in front of the İBB building in Saraçhane.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the spokesperson of the Private Public Buses Platform, Lawyer Erhan Güneş, said, "As the Istanbul Public Bus Tradesmen, we are working day and night to provide you with higher quality and uninterrupted service. However, the economic difficulties we have experienced recently and the unfair practices we have encountered have made it unsustainable for us to continue this effort. As our problems grow, we must find a solution. Despite meeting with us four times here since May 15 last year, İBB officials have not kept any of the promises they made. They have delayed us with different policies each time. First, they told us, 'Wait until the elections, your payments will be made.' They delayed us with excuses like 'There are properties belonging to İBB that will be sold, we will make your payment. There is a taxi tender that will be held, we will make your payment.'
"THERE ARE 3,041 VEHICLES WITH 6 BILLION TL RECEIVABLES INSIDE" Stating that the amount to be paid is growing every day, Güneş said, "Currently, there are 3,041 vehicles inside with 6 billion TL receivables. Each vehicle has nearly 2 million TL in receivables. Unfair practices are being applied to us. The rotation policies implemented by İETT cause our vehicles to frequently be out of service and seriously disrupt our operations. These practices not only threaten our livelihood but also make it difficult for you, our valued public, to access transportation. Moreover, every time we come here, the officials promise us, but these promises are repeatedly not kept. Our grievances are growing every day. All the yellow buses you see serving in Istanbul are Private Public Buses. İETT does not operate its own vehicles. We provide all the service day and night, from 4:00 AM to 1:00 AM. But when the end of the month comes, our payments are not made to us. Istanbulites, you are being treated unfairly. Why is this happening? Because you pay in advance for the bus you ride. But since İBB intervenes, İBB does not make the payment for your money, your service, to us. They have seized your money. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality has currently usurped the transportation service rights of 16 million people. We are being dragged into a major financial crisis due to the non-payment of our receivables from the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Despite having passed 10 months, we have not yet received the payment for December. You traveled on the bus you paid for in December, and we are still in May without receiving that payment. You traveled from Taksim to Eminönü in December, you made your payment to me, but this money is sitting in İBB's account. Even though May has come, they have not deposited my entitlement to me," he said.
"WE WILL INSTALL OUR OWN POS DEVICES IN OUR VEHICLES" Stating that they have given the İBB management a deadline until the end of the month, Güneş said, "We are warning the people of Istanbul. We do not want to victimise you. If İBB does not make our payments by the end of the month, we will install our personal POS devices in our vehicles to avoid victimizing you. Please do not use Istanbulkart. We will collect payments with our personal POS devices. To ensure that transportation does not stop, we do not want to victimise you. We will install personal POS devices in our vehicles and continue our services. We have given the İBB management a deadline until the end of the month. Please support us as well. We are waiting for the necessary assistance from the people of Istanbul for the payment of our 6 billion TL receivables," he said.
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