Turkish Workers' wage hike protest! Workers flocked to AKP buildings in 81 provinces

Workers who are members of unions affiliated with Türk-İş protested in front of AKP provincial buildings in 81 provinces for their demands regarding the 2025 Public Collective Labor Agreements Framework Protocol.

Many political party representatives and the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK) Istanbul Regional Representative Asalettin Arslanoğlu also attended the protest in Istanbul.

The statement prepared at the protest, where a large number of police and riot police teams took intensive security measures, was read by Halil Faki Erdal, Deputy Provincial Chairman of Türk-İş İstanbul 1st Region. Erdal, who said, “We want a wage befitting human dignity,” said the following:

-The data from TÜİK does not reflect the financial difficulties we are experiencing. Contract proposals should be prepared according to the realities experienced in the market and in the kitchen, not according to the data from TÜİK. We demand a wage that is humanly livable and suitable for living conditions. We want a realistic and fair collective agreement.

-The proposals brought to the table by the government are nothing more than stalling the workers. Collective agreements must be in accordance with the workers' will and living conditions. No proposal made without considering the workers' voices is legitimate. We want justice in taxes. The workers' salaries are melted away by taxes before they even receive them.

-This system, where people who earn less are taxed more and people who earn more are taxed less, is unfair. The income tax base should be arranged fairly and gradually to end the unfair system. We want an urgent solution to the financial difficulties. Rent, bills, food, transportation; everything has increased but our salaries continue to melt away.

-Workers are forced to live on credit cards, debt, and malnutrition. The economy cannot recover without looking after the people's tables, pockets, and lives. We want secure work and job security. The subcontracting system and insecure work must be ended.

-The future of public workers should be protected. Those who have a job today should not worry about tomorrow. We want respect for labor and value for workers. Justice cannot be achieved unless sweat is valued. We work, we produce, we are the pillars of this country. If labor is ignored, production, justice and development are not possible.

Source: ANKA