Threshold debate opens in collective bargaining law affecting millions of civil servants

While work continues on amendments to the law governing the collective bargaining process that directly affects wage increases for millions of civil servants and retired civil servants, Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that 'threshold' and 'solidarity contribution' clauses have been brought into discussion during negotiations.

Behind the negotiations are criticisms about the existence of hundreds of 'small unions' within service sectors. These criticisms have raised the question of whether a 2 percent threshold requirement previously annulled by the Constitutional Court will be brought back onto the agenda. If the regulation is implemented, unions falling below a certain membership threshold could lose the right to benefit from collective bargaining bonuses.

The solidarity contribution clause would reframe under what conditions members of unions not represented at the negotiating table can benefit from these rights. The details of the draft amendment directly affecting millions of public employees have not yet been fully shared with the public, and negotiations are expected to continue in the coming days.