Public Sector Union Pushes for Pay Hike in 2026-2027 Collective Bargaining Talks
Lİra
During a key preparatory meeting for the upcoming 8th Term Collective Bargaining Negotiations, Önder Kahveci, President of Turkey Kamu-Sen, unveiled the union’s wage hike proposal covering 2026 and 2027.
Kahveci emphasized that public employees are seeking a base salary of 10,000 TL in the first half of 2026, coupled with a 10% welfare bonus and a 25% general wage increase. For the second half of 2026, the union demands a 20% proportional raise.
Looking ahead to 2027, Kamu-Sen proposes:
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A base salary of 7,500 TL plus a 20% raise in the first half,
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And a 15% increase in the second half.
“We are aiming for a fair structure that accounts for inflation and restores lost purchasing power,” Kahveci stated.
Government Reflects on Past Raises
In response, Minister of Labor and Social Security Vedat Işıkhan referenced the significant gains from previous collective agreements.
“Including inflation adjustments, public employees saw a 130% cumulative salary increase during the last term,” Işıkhan noted.
The minister also highlighted the long-term evolution of public sector wages, stating that the lowest civil servant salary, which was 392 TL in 2002, has reached 50,503 TL in 2025.
“This represents a real-term increase of 264%,” Işıkhan added.
These collective bargaining discussions, which shape the future of public servant compensation, are expected to continue as unions press for stronger welfare and pay protections in light of economic volatility.
