KESK marches to Labor Ministry with 20,000 signatures: demands 35% additional raise

Members of the Confederation of Public Workers' Unions (KESK) submitted 20,000 signatures they collected from across the country today to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in 48 folders, demanding a 35% additional raise. KESK members gathered in front of the minister and held up a banner reading "Collective agreement is void, urgent additional raise."

KESK Co-Chair Ahmet Karagöz stated that current salaries are eroding against inflation, saying "These signatures are the voice of public employees struggling to pay rent, watching the fire in their kitchen grow, unable to cover their children's education expenses."

During the 2024 collective bargaining period, KESK had also submitted its additional raise demand to the Labor Ministry, but the government rejected the proposal at that time and closed negotiations with an arrangement that fell below 35%. The Confederation announced that if the demand is not met, they could organize work stoppages in the autumn period.