Cultural Workers' Union: Any collective agreement that usurps the rights of those who live by their labor is not legitimate.

Source: News Center

The Cultural Workers' Union reacted to the wage increases granted to public employees. Cultural workers described the arbitration process as a decision that "deepens poverty." The union emphasized that the decisions "increase the Palace budget while reducing the bread on the table for cultural and arts workers."

According to the Arbitration Board's decision, public servants will receive an 11 percent raise in the first term of 2026, a 7 percent raise in the second term, and a 5 percent and 4 percent raise in 2027. Additionally, an additional 1,000 Turkish Lira will be added to the base salary in the first term of 2026. However, the union stated that these rates are far below both the official TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) inflation rate of 44.38 percent and ENAG's 83.40 percent calculation, indicating a significant loss of purchasing power.

The union's statement deemed the maximum salary increase for contract artists, at just 1,463 TL, "insufficient." It also noted that the 234 TL and 293 TL additional payments for stagehands and choirmasters are rapidly eroding in the face of inflation. The increase in overtime limits for library and museum workers was criticized for not only eroding salaries but also increasing workloads.

The union emphasized that the Arbitration Board's decisions further lowered the standard of living of public workers, saying, "This decision is the product of a will that devalues ​​labor. Union Law No. 4688 has become obsolete. The only path for public workers is a new union law with strikes and collective bargaining."

The Cultural Workers' Union stated that special salary arrangements are essential for artists and technical personnel working in arts institutions. The statement concluded, "Our will will grow not at the desk, but in the workplace, on the stage, in the workshops, behind the scenes, through solidarity, and will rise in the streets."