The United Nations has announced a salary increase of 7 to 11 percent for its approximately 700 employees across 13 agencies in Turkey, prompting protests and threats of a strike, the Gazete Duvar news website reported on Friday.
UN employees, including those from the World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organization, International Labour Organization and International Organization for Migration, expressed dissatisfaction with the increase, saying it fails to meet the cost of living. They plan to strike if their demands are not met.
A UN official reportedly responded to the workers’ threats, saying, “If you don’t like it, go home.”
The National Staff Associate Committee within the UN will be informed if a strike is decided upon.
UN national staff salaries in Turkey range from $768 to $1,857 per month. Workers highlight significant pay disparities between Turkey and other countries. For instance, a G-5 level worker earns $1,970 in Amman, Jordan; $2,192 in Baghdad, Iraq (with an additional hazard pay of nearly $1,000); and $3,545 in Beirut, Lebanon. Employees argue that the annual inflation in Turkey is not reflected in their pay increases.
Three years ago, UN staff in Turkey nearly went on strike over working conditions and inadequate salaries due to rising exchange rates. Negotiations with officials averted the strike at the last minute. Since then, workers claim conditions have not improved and their salaries have been further devalued.
Other UN agencies operating in Turkey are OCHA UN Secretariat, UN Women, UN Development Programme, UN Population Fund, UN Refugee Agency, UN Information Centres, UNICEF, UN Industrial Development Organization and the World Food Programme.