site.btaUnions Strike in Turkiye; Transport in Izmir Affected

Public sector unions in Turkiye have called a one-day strike on Monday, affecting transport in Izmir, the online newspaper Türkiye Today reported. The workers are unhappy with the government’s proposal for wage increases in 2026 and 2027, which they consider inadequate, given the rising cost of living.

The government’s proposal from August 12, 2025 is for a 10% wage increase in the first half of 2026 and 6% in the second half. The proposal for 2027 included two increases of 4%. On 15 August, a proposal to increase basic wages by TRY 1,000, or around EUR 25, was added to this, but the unions again found this insufficient.

They say the proposals ignore the reality created by inflation.

“We don’t see anything to negotiate about. The government is sending us to the streets,” said trade unionist Ali Yalcin.

Seven trade union organizations joined the strike, holding rallies in 81 provinces.

In Ankara, they protested in front of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

The protests also blocked the railway in Izmir, which will not operate on Monday.

The public sector workers’ union demanded an 88% wage increase for 2026 and 46% for 2027, warning that without them, employees would be “crushed by inflation.”

According to official data in July 2025, inflation in Turkiye was 33.5%, but according to independent studies it reached 65%. According to the Turkish trade unions, the poverty line for a family of four in Ankara is TRY 86,000, or about EUR 1,800.