Healthcare workers are demanding decent wages.

Labor Service

Protests continue against the poverty raise proposed by the government duringthe Public Framework Protocol (PFP) negotiations. Yesterday, healthcare workers at Dokuz Eylül University and Ege University hospitals walked off the job and held a press conference, while healthcare workers at Pamukkale University held a march in the hospital garden. Healthcare workers, members of the Turkish Health Workers' Union (Sağlık-İş), reiterated their demands for a decent wage and fair taxation.

Özgür Arslan, the head of the Health-Workers' Union's Izmir Branch, spoke at the protest in front of Dokuz Eylül University Hospital. Arslan said, "I'm calling out to everyone, from workers living on minimum wage to retirees living on 16,000 Turkish Lira: this is a struggle. They say workers are receiving 80,000 Turkish Lira. This month, workers are getting 37,000-38,000 Turkish Lira. Today, the poverty line is 84, and the hunger line is 26,000 Turkish Lira. But the government is trying to force us to face hunger and poverty. This is a problem for all of us. Those who struggle win. Therefore, we have no choice but to unite."

WORK WILL BE LEFT FOR 2 HOURS EVERY MORNING

The statement read: "We do not accept the poverty raise proposed by the government in the public framework protocol. We cannot make ends meet with our salaries, which are eroding daily in the face of inflation. We want to live humanly, which is our right. We are on the ground to protect our labor, our future, and our dignity."

The union's action plan was also announced during the protest. Healthcare workers will strike for two hours in front of the facility after printing their work passes every morning and will hold a press conference afterward. Meanwhile, healthcare workers will be striking for a full day today.

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WE KEEP THE WHEELS OF PRODUCTION TURNING

Workers at Pamukkale University Hospital also held a press conference. Following the statement, the workers marched to the cafeteria. The statement was read by Erhan Er, Deputy Chairman of the Health-Workers' Izmir Branch. The statement included the following: “We will not even mention the figures you have offered here. We don't even care if you offer that offer or if we hear about it. We can't even make it through a week on our salaries. We've warned you repeatedly. We are the productive power of this country. Thanks to us workers, who work under all circumstances, public order remains uninterrupted.”