Labor unions TÜRK-İŞ, HAK-İŞ and DISK expressed their demands in a joint statement asking fairness in taxation and immediate adjustments in minimum wages and pensions. The joint statement said, “The minimum wage must be increased. Workers cannot accept not raising the minimum wage claiming that it will increase inflation.”
Three unions demanded improvements in the tax system and immediate adjustments in the minimum wage and pensions. The three confederations also announced that they are considering organizing strikes starting from the regions.
TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay, HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan and DISK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu held a press conference at TÜRK-İŞ Headquarters. A joint statement was read out at the press conference. TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay stated that they are aware of the effects of the earthquake, crisis and international developments and said, “The minimum wage is high, the minimum wage was like this 10 years ago, 20 years ago, it is pointless to talk about this, it is shameful and sinful. The picture is clear, the money received is clear, the prices on the shelves in the grocery stores are clear. Therefore, this issue is about the country, we live together in this country. We know the cost of the earthquake, we know the cost of the war, we know the cost of COVID, but there has been such a bad economic management that we are paying for it together. Workers, laborers, the unemployed, we have no strength left.”
Share of workers in GDP in decline despite growth
In his speech, HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan emphasized that it is unacceptable that the share of workers in GDP is decreasing despite the growth, and said, “The share of wage earners is decreasing despite the growth and GDP increase. At this stage, the number of minimum wage workers is increasing, not decreasing. There is a reversal in the fair distribution of welfare. Turkey is among the countries with unfair national income. While the minimum wage is an exception in EU countries, it has become a general wage in Turkey. We think that Turkey does not deserve this trend. There is something wrong here.” DISK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu underlined that it is not the labor sector that is responsible for the economic situation and said that the prevention of organizing is one of the most important problems. In response to a question, Çerkezoğlu reminded that they had filed a lawsuit against TÜİK for not disclosing the prices in the basket of items, and criticized the failure to make the announcement despite the decisions, and stated that each time they presented different elements as the reason for not disclosing.
“We demand a life worthy of human dignity”
The 10-point joint statement prepared by the three confederations was read by Arzu Çerkezoğlu. Drawing attention to the problems of working life, gender inequality, obstacles to organizing, income and wealth inequality, the main demands in the declaration, which states that “the approach that sees wage earners as the cause of inflation is unacceptable, wage earners are victims, not causes”, are as follows:
- Tax justice: The income tax tariff should be improved and the tax base should be reorganized. Reduce VAT on natural gas, electricity, water, transportation and communication services to 1 percent, and zero VAT on basic consumer goods. The employer’s social security premium reduction support should be similarly provided to the employee.
- Wage policy in the fight against inflation: Wages are eroding in the face of inflation, and the increases announced based on TurkStat data do not reflect the real situation. Therefore, the approach that sees wages as the main cause of inflation should be abandoned.
- Minimum wage: The minimum wage should be increased. Workers cannot accept not raising the minimum wage on the grounds that it will increase inflation.
- The wage imbalance in the public sector must be eliminated.
- The lowest pension should be raised to the minimum wage.
- Obstacles to union organization must be removed.
- Subcontracted workers working in institutions and organizations left out in the recruitment of subcontractors should also be recruited.
- Although austerity measures are positive in terms of preventing waste, workers’ rights in wages and social areas should not be taken back under the name of austerity.
- Working conditions should be improved to prevent work accidents and occupational diseases.
- End discrimination at work and ratify ILO Convention 190.
“They think we are slaves”
TÜRK-İŞ President Ergün Atalay harshly criticized the State Economic Enterprises (SEE) management change. Atalay said that this means selling strategic SEEs piece by piece and handing them over to international monopolies. Ergün Atalay said, “We objected for years and now they are saying let’s privatize them again. Energy is like a weapon, food is like a weapon, it is critical. We live together in this country. We know what is happening. In the past, the public sector was a pioneer in wages, the average wage was good. What is happening now? The money earned by the private sector is obvious. These people think we are slaves and serfs.”
Ergün Atalay reiterated that the cost of economic difficulties should not fall on wage earners and said, “No, let’s make a tax, let’s tax tips. If you had given this authority to the previous finance minister, he would have done it. Let them take their hands off us, there is no way to fix the economy through us. We find it difficult to breathe. If there is an economic crisis at home, there is no peace in that house.”
