Bem-Bir-Sen Publishes the Final Statement of the Board of Presidents
Forex - The final declaration of the Bem-Bir-Sen Presidents' Council, conducted with the participation of the General President Levent Uslu, Vice Presidents, Branch/Provincial Presidents, and Commissions, has been published.
The published declaration stated:
"Established in 1994, Bem-Bir-Sen has become one of the most effective and largest civil society organizations, entering its 19th year with 93 Branches and Provincial Presidencies across 81 provinces of Turkey. It has been the powerful voice of local government employees, adhering to the understanding that serving the public is serving the truth since its inception.
True to its brand of the "Union that Wins," Bem-Bir-Sen has been the address of solutions for local government employees’ demands for over 30 years, and it will continue to follow these demands on every platform.
Continuing its work with a dedicated team in love with our country and nation, Bem-Bir-Sen held its Presidents’ Council in Edirne, the City of Sultans.
The meeting emphasized the continuing struggle against oppression, injustice, and injustice towards local government employees; the effort to protect acquired rights and to gain new ones; and the commitment to resolve existing issues as soon as possible. The following decisions were made:
• We condemn the despicable terrorist attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) facilities in Kahramankazan. We pray for God's mercy on our citizens who were martyred in this heinous attack and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. We denounce any attacks aimed at undermining our nation's unity and solidarity and condemn all forms of terrorism. We call on our people for unity and solidarity against these attacks.
• As Bem-Bir-Sen organizations, we will continue to fulfill our responsibilities to end the genocide, looting, and exile perpetrated by the terrorist state of Israel in Gaza, Palestine, and Lebanon, just as we have done until now.
• We condemn the massacres, murders, starvation, and human rights violations committed against oppressed peoples, particularly in East Turkestan, which are a collective shame for humanity. We call on humanity to stand against oppression and to take responsibility for establishing peace, justice, freedom, and human rights in our world.
• Bem-Bir-Sen's struggle, determination, and signature are present in every right gained by local government employees today. Rights such as 100% increase in the 1st 5 Period Collective Agreements, 120% increase in the 6th and 7th Period Collective Agreements on Social Balance Contracts, 100% increase in Additional Salary Increases for Firefighters and Municipal Police Officers, 12-point increase in Special Service Compensations, reclassification of firefighters from the Auxiliary Services Class to General Administrative Services Class, 5-point increase in Special Service Compensations for Marriage Officers, increases in extra payment rates for Engineers, Technical Services Class Personnel, Lawyers, and Supervisors, 10-point increase in Compensation of Enforcement Officers, 800-points Job Risk Compensation for Measurement and Adjustment Officers, 50% increase in the number of personnel benefiting from Performance Bonuses, 25% increase in Performance Bonuses, transport assistance in Metropolitan municipalities, recruitment of contract personnel for permanent positions, cash payment of meal assistance, waivers on childcare assistance, waivers on SDS, cancellation of temporary assignments/transfers without civil servant consent, are just some of the 69 gains we have secured in municipalities and special administrations. We will continue to add new gains for our local government employees, befitting the Union that Wins brand.
• The power of labor is the power of Turkey. The understanding that denies public servants in decision-making processes regarding economic policies should be abandoned.
• Our proposals to solve problems stemming from the high inflation must be taken into account. An additional increase (excluding inflation difference) must be made beyond the 6% increase scheduled for January to eliminate the grievances experienced by public servants and to alleviate the distress caused by living costs.
• The matter of granting a "3600 Additional Indicator" to all civil servants who are promoted to the 1st degree and retired civil servants, resolved in the 7th Period Collective Agreement, must be included in the 2025 budget with our determination, and must be realized before the expiration of the collective agreement.
• Income tax should be fixed at 15%, and public employees should be relieved of the tax burden. The formula created by introducing 20% and 27% brackets in the middle of the year, which increases costs at the source and reduces income, should be abandoned immediately, and a system should be established where fixed-income earners are secured at the 15% rate.
• The financial, social, and personal rights of Engineers and Technical Services Class personnel should be improved, and the rightful demands in this regard should be fulfilled.
• Law No. 4688 on Public Servants' Unions should be updated in accordance with international norms, trade union realities, and universal principles; trade union freedoms should be increased; obstacles to organization should be removed; and provisions of collective agreements should be fully implemented. Processes should emerge where the gains of collective agreements are increased to resolve grievances, rather than having them annulled.
• Unjust practices regarding fixed overtime pay for Firefighters and Municipal Police Officers should be rectified, and regulations should be established to eliminate the discrepancies arising from this issue by increasing fixed overtime pay to fairly compensate for their efforts.
• As per the promises made in the collective agreement, regulations to alleviate the grievances regarding firefighters’ deterioration pay rights should be immediately implemented.
• To ensure justice and prioritize merit, interviews should be abolished in Promotion and Title Change Exams.
• It should be ensured that our public servants, struggling under inflationary pressure during the crisis that began with COVID-19 and disrupted economic balances worldwide, can breathe easier. In this context, savings should not be at the expense of public servants, and the voices of retired public servants should also be heard and their expectations met.
• Our proposal made during the 2025 budget discussions to tie “per diem and overtime pay to current conditions” should be realized.
• Regarding the municipal elections on March 31, 2024, we express once again our condemnation of illegalities such as pressure, mobbing, transfers, and demotion against our members, as well as the efforts to force them to resign. We would like to state that many of the cases we have pursued in this regard have resulted in our favor. We want it to be known that we continue this struggle.
Everyone should know that Bem-Bir-Sen, a noble tree that has been growing for thirty years, will remain firmly rooted and always stand tall.
In the face of all injustices and illegalities, Bem-Bir-Sen organizations remain strong in their duties as one and united. Having been the General Authorized Union of local government employees for 19 years, Bem-Bir-Sen will continue to carry the banner of union struggle with the same determination and resolve.
Even during periods like February 28, when undemocratic practices peaked, the followers of this cause, who did not retreat from their struggle and stood in the squares on July 15, have proven their awareness of a noble cause and solid will. Bem-Bir-Sen organizations will continue their struggle without getting tired, weary, or compromising, despite pressures and intimidation, in accordance with the ancient values they believe in.
Bem-Bir-Sen organizations, which understand the secret of success, will once again write the epics of struggle."