Public Workers Find Inflation Difference Insufficient, Demand Additional Raise

HEP-SEN, ÜNİ PER-SEN and HEP BÜRO-SEN members gathered in front of Pamukkale University Hospital to hold a press statement, drawing attention to the economic hardships experienced by public employees. This action, carried out jointly by three different unions, revealed the general dissatisfaction with the erosion in the wages of university employees and other public workers. Employees emphasized that current wages continue to cause livelihood difficulties in the face of increasing cost of living and that authorities need to produce an urgent solution to this situation.

The most striking point of the statement was the harsh stance that the concept of 'inflation difference' should not be accepted as a raise. Union representatives and members expressed that the inflation difference is not an improvement made to wages, but a mandatory price difference, and that this amount is never sufficient to preserve purchasing power. According to them, the inflation difference is merely a mathematical operation to stop the erosion of wages and has no contribution to increasing the welfare level. Therefore, flat-rate raises or increases at higher rates are demanded so that civil servants have the right to a real raise.

Unions argue that the rates determined by collective bargaining and the raise increases fall far behind the real inflation figures and cost of living in the market. It is stated that while the costs of basic needs such as food and housing are increasing rapidly across the country, the increase in wages cannot keep up with this situation and employees are getting poorer day by day. Unions arguing that the current economic balance works against public employees and current contract provisions are not sufficient to eliminate this imbalance make it a condition for a new regulation. In this context, it is requested that not only the rates but also the basic structure of the collective agreement and the increase systematic be reviewed again.

The focus of the demands is to make an additional raise to wages and to re-determine collective bargaining provisions. Employees express that a real increase reflected in their wages is of vital importance to sustain their living standards, otherwise making a living will become impossible. Union officials warn that dialogue channels with confederations and relevant ministries are kept open, but the level of action may increase if concrete steps are not taken. This situation can be interpreted as a signal that the tension between the public administration and unions may increase.

On the other hand, the gathering of union members in front of the university hospital also shows the special situation of those working in the health and education sectors. It is a fact that health workers, dealing with increased workload after the pandemic process and economic crisis, need support both materially and spiritually. Unions state that these demands are not limited to a salary increase, but are part of a comprehensive improvement package regarding working conditions and social rights. These statements reveal that public employees have come together not only to secure today but also to secure their future and are waging a justified struggle.