Turkish Rail System Vehicles Industry Joint Stock Company (TÜRASAŞ) workers protested demanding a wage increase.
With the determination of the minimum wage that will be valid in 2024, the additional increase protests that started in public workplaces are growing. The previous day, Eskişehir TÜRASAŞ workers had also reacted to their union, the Railway Workers' Union, with a march from in front of the Regional Directorate to the city square. The workers, who said that the figures in the collective agreement negotiations were insufficient, listed their demands regarding the wage increase and the contract date.
Demiryol-İş Union Eskişehir Branch President Ramazan Kaya stated in his statements that the issue is not a union and said, “From January 2023 to this January, the main item was increased by 317 percent in minimum wage and 346 percent for civil servants, but public workers remained at 94 percent. “Our workers are demanding a raise on a regular basis.” he said.
Following the Eskişehir march, TÜRASAŞ factory workers in Sakarya held a cafeteria protest yesterday. Workers in Sakarya expressed their demands by banging spoons and forks on the tables in the cafeteria.
Reasons for actions
The main reason for the actions of TÜRASAŞ workers is the decrease in their wages. TÜRASAŞ workers received a 2023 percent raise in the collective agreement made in 94. However, this increase has eroded against inflation. According to TÜİK data, inflation has exceeded 2023 percent since January 150. In this case, the salaries of TÜRASAŞ workers decreased by 56 percent in real terms.
Workers are demanding a pay raise. Seyyanen raise means the raise given to all employees at the same rate. In this way, some of the loss against inflation can be compensated.
Workers also demand that the contract date be brought forward. The current collective agreement will expire at the end of 2024. Workers want the contract to be put on the table as soon as possible and a new contract to be signed without suffering further losses against inflation.
Continuation of actions
The protests of TÜRASAŞ workers are expected to continue. Workers plan to hold protests with wider participation if their demands are not met.
The protests are expected to set an example for the additional raise protests that have started in public workplaces. Public workers support the demands of TÜRASAŞ workers.