Protocol signed in public worker raise talks

Negotiations covering the 2025-2026 period, which concern approximately 600,000 workers employed in public institutions such as highways, railways, power plants, ministries, universities, and hospitals, have concluded. A signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. At the ceremony, closed to the press and attended by Labor and Social Security Minister Vedat Işıkhan, a protocol was signed between the Turkish Heavy Industry and Service Sector Public Employers' Union (TÜHİS) and the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) and the Confederation of Rights and Trade Unions (HAK-İŞ).

Following the protocol signing ceremony, a statement was made to the press. TÜRK-İŞ Deputy Chairman Ramazan Ağar stated, "Our negotiations, which have been ongoing for seven months on behalf of 600,000 public workers, have concluded today. The best collective bargaining agreements are those concluded behind the scenes. Ultimately, they have been concluded once again behind the scenes. As TÜRK-İŞ, we took action. We implemented the action decisions taken by our union in our public workplaces, but ultimately, we reached a conclusion today. And thus, we have signed public collective bargaining agreements that concern 600,000 public workers. Of course, our goal is to put an extra slice of bread on the table of the society we represent. We fought for that, and because we have reached a certain point, albeit not fully, under today's conditions, we signed a separate framework protocol today as TÜRK-İŞ with our Minister. Separate framework protocols were signed as HAK-İŞ."

Ağar thanked those who supported the process.

'WE DID NOT LEAVE THE TABLE'

HAK-İŞ Deputy Chairman Devlet Sert stated that they were aware of their responsibilities throughout the negotiations, saying, "We never shirked our responsibilities. We never abandoned the table. Of course, serious difficulties and challenges may arise during collective bargaining negotiations. But we have never been one side that would abandon the table. Despite those who misinform both the field and the public by creating different perceptions, we are once again signing this agreement together today. Of course, we cannot say, 'There is 100% satisfaction.' We cannot say, 'Expectations have been 100% met.' But under today's circumstances, we all see the hardship faced by workers in a time when purchasing power is weak due to global economic understanding and its reflection in Türkiye, as well as inflation. We certainly developed a good draft, taking into account the requests of our members on social media. But ultimately, an agreement has now been reached."

MINISTER IŞIKHAN: MAY OUR PROTOCOL BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR WORKERS

Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan said in a statement, "We have strived to successfully manage our negotiations with our unions over these seven months, and we have achieved this. In line with our understanding of social dialogue, we have always opened our doors to our unions. We have engaged in this communication not only with our unions but also with all our civil society organizations and professional organizations. Of course, as you will appreciate, the negotiation process has been lengthy. We have finally reached a certain point, and we have signed the protocol with both Ramazan Bey, Vice President of the TÜRK-İŞ Confederation, and Devlet Bey, Vice President of the HAK-İŞ Confederation. I hope that our protocol will once again be beneficial, especially for our 600,000 public workers."

Minister Işıkhan stated that they are providing the highest level of support for the personal and economic rights of 600,000 public workers. Regarding the raise rates included in the protocol, Işıkhan said, "We reached an agreement within the framework we previously discussed publicly. In other words, a general wage increase of 24 percent for the first six months and 11 percent for the second six months was given. This demonstrates that we are providing support to our public workers above inflation. We have already followed the principle, as instructed by our esteemed President, of never allowing our employees, civil servants, and retirees to be crushed by inflation."

On the other hand, it was stated that the details of the protocol will be announced later.

DHA

Reporter: News Center