Final offer for public workers

MİTHAT YURDAKUL / Ankara - According to the proposal, the 24 percent offer would be maintained for the first six months, while an inflation adjustment of 11 percent would be applied for the second six months. Following the proposal, the difference between the parties narrowed to 2 percentage points. In the five-month negotiations on collective bargaining agreements for public workers, the public side had most recently offered a 24 percent raise for the first six months, an 11 percent raise for the second, a 10 percent raise for the third, and a 6 percent raise for the fourth. When the workers rejected the offer, a surprise meeting took place. Yılmaz and Atalay met at the Presidential Complex the night before.

If the workers say 'yes'

The new proposal would see a 24% increase in gross basic wages for the first six months, after workers' wages are reduced to a daily base wage of 1,400 lira and a daily standard increase of 40 lira is added to any wages not covered by the base wage. For the second six months, the daily standard increase of 50 lira will be supplemented by an 11% increase. If the inflation rate between June 2025 and December 2025 exceeds 11%, the excess will be added to the first and sixth month's raise rate for the second year. In the second year, the increase equal to the inflation rate exceeding these rates will be applied on top of the 10% and 6% raises.

Following the meeting, Atalay made a statement, saying, “Our colleagues will take this to the provinces and districts. They will ask the unions and their members. If the workers agree to this, they will come and say ‘yes.’ If they don't, we will say ‘no’ and continue on our path…” HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan said, “If our unions decide to ‘sign,’ then the necessary action will be taken.”