Raise Reaction from Birlik Sağlık Sen: Civil Servant is Poor, Retiree is Hungry!

Following the announcement of the Haziran month inflation data by TÜİK, the new salary raise rates awaited by millions of citizens have also become clear. According to official announcements, it has been decided to apply a 17,76 percent increase to the salaries of SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees. For civil servants and civil servant retirees, the six-month salary increase has been determined as 13,52 percent. With this new regulation, the lowest retirement pension has been raised from 20 bin TL to 23 bin 552 TL. Similarly, the monthly salary of an SSK or Bağ-Kur retiree receiving 25 bin TL has been increased to 29 bin 440 TL.

The salary increases for civil servants and civil servant retirees are determined by calculating the inflation difference that occurred with the collective agreement raise of the previous period, every six months. For the second six-month period of the year 2026, the raise rate foreseen in the collective agreement has been applied as 7 percent. However, the fact that the six-month inflation realized at a high level of 17,76 percent during the same period fixed the total salary increase of civil servants at 13,52 percent. This situation reveals how inflationary pressures create a balance within the system and directly affect the purchasing power of salaries. The nominal increases obtained by employees gain a different real value against the pricing behavior in the market.

These raises and the announced rates have been a subject of great criticism by unions and worker representatives. Birlik Sağlık Sen General President Ahmet Doğruyol published a written statement regarding the Temmuz month raises for civil servants and retirees, harshly criticizing the decisions. In his statement, Doğruyol once again emphasized the reality that the civil servant is poor and the retiree is hungry. Stating that the hardships experienced during every raise period are repeating, Doğruyol expressed the situation with the analogy of 'same old story' which describes the current system. He argued that the officials paint a picture far from solving the livelihood struggles of the employees.

The union president claimed that inflation figures are deliberately shown low during the periods when raise rates are determined. As a reason, he presented a striking example by referring to specific inflation data from the past period. Accordingly, although the inflation rate was announced as 1,03 percent in the Aralık month of the year 2024 when the raise rates were calculated, the inflation rate announced in the Şubat month immediately after the raise jumped to 5,03 percent. Evaluating based on these data, Doğruyol claimed that an amount of money at a rate of百分之5 was taken back from the civil servant and retiree's pocket even in the first month the raise was applied. He argued that a similar statistical picture emerges in every salary period and that this creates a situation to the detriment of the employees.

Doğruyol also stated that the collective agreement negotiations held for eight terms have not provided any concrete benefit to civil servants. Criticizing the union managements that remain under political pressure and tutelage, and that cannot be effective even though they are authorized, he stated that those who argue that the demand for a flat raise is irrational are unjust. According to him, the low raises that should be given must be increased as a flat raise (an equal amount to all salaries) to be reflected at least in retirement pensions. Otherwise, it is not possible for flat raises that do not reflect on retirement to improve retirement pensions and provide a livelihood worthy of human dignity. As a result, the union demands a serious structural change against the current economic policies and salary increase calculation methods.