The salary rates to be applied in 5 were determined with the protocol made in addition to the CBA previously signed between Ankara Metropolitan Municipality and the unions of Belediye-İş, Demiryol-İş, Tezkoop-İş, Güvenlik-İş and Öz Gıda-İş, which operate in 2024 different business lines.
“LABOR PEACE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED, EQUAL WAY UNDERSTANDING HAS BEEN BROUGHT”
Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mansur Yavaş, who started his speech by congratulating the Metropolitan Municipality staff, whom he calls his "colleagues", said, "Before taking office, there were people who ran an election campaign with slanders such as 'they will lay off the staff' and 'they cannot even pay salaries'. We did not dismiss any of our staff for political reasons, we stood by everyone who earned their living through their labor, and we did not delay salaries even for a day. As you may remember, they even took it further and said, "PKK members will read the water meters, and DHKP-C members will bring the bills." "Today, all of Turkey is a witness that those who read the meters and bring the bills are the pure sons of Ankara," he said.
Noting that the staff made positive changes in their business lives, Mansur Yavaş said: “We eliminated the 1970 title, that is, the 1970 different salaries, which were previously created individually and defined different wages for doing the same job, and reduced it to 38 positions. While this situation simplified the excessive staffing that had been going on for 25 years, it also ensured labor peace and introduced the concept of equal pay for equal work. After this, we first regulated the salaries and social rights with the agreement reached with our authorized unions. In the past, collective bargaining agreements with unions were out of the question. During our period, equality and justice were established and labor peace was achieved. In the past, there were different practices for holiday bonuses in the contracts signed with our municipal companies. While some personnel did not even have a bonus, some personnel were given 13 daily wages and some were given 26 daily wages. We know that sometimes our staff are given food parcels as holiday bonuses. We increased the holiday bonus equally for each of our colleagues to 48 per diem per year.”
Reminding that the staff were forcibly taken to rallies and political party meetings in 40-degree heat, Yavaş said, “One of the family members was made to memorize cheers for the football club established. We came, called our employees 'our family' and transformed them all into the identity of a government institution employee. This is the biggest difference in our management approach. "In addition, we defined social rights such as family allowance, food aid, education aid, risk premium, which were not included in the collective bargaining agreements made with a single union in the past, and provided additional income items to our staff," he said.
“WE WILL OF COURSE BE WITH OUR CO-WORKERS WHO WROTE THE EPIC OF SOLIDARITY”
Reminding in his speech that an additional improvement was made to salaries in July 2023, Yavaş said, “We promised to give the inflation difference from July to today. According to TUIK data, the inflation rate has increased by 37,57 percent since July. A 40 percent increase was envisaged in our collective bargaining agreement. We could not remain indifferent to all these negative conditions. When we said 'We are a family' we never spoke in vain. "Of course, we will stand by our colleagues who work devotedly in pandemics, earthquakes, floods, disasters, in the worst days and write an epic of solidarity from Ankara Metropolitan Municipality to all of Turkey," he said.
“THEY WAITED FOR THE METROPOLITAN ADMINISTRATION TO COME FACE TO FACE WITH THE WORKERS”
Making a statement about the EYT regulation, Yavaş continued as follows: "Mr. President said last year that he would never retire EYT members. He said, "Even if there is an election loss, I will not enact the EYT regulation." However, as the election was approaching, it was legalized and we have around 6 EYT members. Their severance pay was in question. We have had to pay 800 billion lira so far. However, when we were preparing our budget at the end of 2, there was not even a penny allocated for EYT members. Additionally, we spent over 2022 million after the February 1 earthquake. It was not included in any item in the 6 budget. Since all district mayors in the Municipal Council faced the same situation, they went and took out their loans and tried to pay them off. However, when it comes to the Metropolitan Municipality Council, they have kept it waiting for 600 months, even though they knew about this situation. On the other hand, they say, "Why are you paying the severance pay of EYT employees late?" They want us to be face to face with the workers. Despite this, we paid all the compensation of EYT members. Now, if there are new retirees, of course we will pay them too. Even though they know this situation, they keep the loan request waiting there. “They are waiting for the Metropolitan administration to confront the workers.”
“70 PERCENT FOR NOW”
"What percentage do you expect?" to the staff filling the Atatürk Sports Hall. Mayor Mansur Yavaş asked, “We are giving a 70 percent raise for now. Having said that, I have no doubt that this will also melt away in this inflationary environment, but we will always be with you. "It is valid as of January 1, 2024," he said. Mansur Yavaş stated that with the 2023 percent increase made on the 45 percent improvement made in January 36 and the average 70 percent improvement made in July, a 151 percent increase was made in one year, and said, “I also want to give another good news; Meal fees were increased from 2 thousand 860 liras to 4 thousand 862 liras per month, which is the upper limit of the amount determined by the Presidential Decree. "The 70 percent increase rate has also been applied to all social benefits," he said.
Providing information about the wages of additionally educated personnel, Yavaş said, “In accordance with the legislation, civil servant salaries are determined in connection with their multiples. That's why we wrote to the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization, seeking a different method and requesting a change in legislation. We were informed verbally from the Ministry that a legislative study was carried out and sent to the Presidency. We will follow the result and try all legal means to support our additional staff. We will eliminate their suffering, too. Regarding our 180 permanent workers, the one-year inflation difference will be reflected in the wages of our permanent workers in February, in accordance with the relevant article of our collective bargaining agreement.”
“ANKARA WILL NOT LOSE ANYTHING BY NOT HAVING AN INTERSECTION FOR A FEW MORE YEARS”
Stating that they are aware that there will be a decrease in salaries if inflation does not decrease, Yavaş concluded his speech as follows: “If inflation does not decrease, of course there will be a decrease in salaries. Rental prices have increased. The economic situation has become really difficult. However, I look at it this way; There is a lot of victimization in these matters in Ankara, which I call not only my colleagues but also my big family. I am saying that Ankara will not lose anything if an intersection that does not exist today does not exist for a few more years. However, we will not return the funds to spend on them to the families receiving social support in Ankara and leave them hungry and hungry. "We will continue to work to ensure that their children receive equal education like their other friends and do not freeze in the cold."
