We Met with Deputy Minister Gökhan Yazgı

We Met with Deputy Minister Gökhan Yazgı: We Secured a Commitment Regarding the Coordination Meeting and Duty Allowance

September 30, 2026 – Ankara

A delegation from our union met with Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr. Gökhan Yazgı at his office on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., with Barış Salcan, Acting General Director of the State Opera and Ballet, also in attendance. During the meeting, we directly conveyed our long-standing issues, along with the drafts and cost analyses we had prepared.

Dear members and fellow public artists, we are sharing below the topics we raised during the meeting and the outcomes achieved.

Topics We Raised

1. Regulations for Arts Institutions We requested regulations to govern the status and disciplinary provisions for orchestra, choir, theater, and opera employees. Our draft is ready. This regulation should not only establish discipline but also bind the administration and protect the artist. We specifically emphasized this point.

2. Past Service of Our Colleagues Transferred Under Article 4/B The past service of museum and library staff was recognized. However, the service of our colleagues in arts institutions was not recognized. This situation violates the principle of equality. We reminded them that this issue had been addressed in the previous term and that all preparations had been completed. We conveyed that we are closely monitoring this regulation, the outcome of which has remained uncertain for 1.5 years, and that we have prepared a cost analysis.

3. Incentive Bonus We requested that the incentive bonus be paid in an amount equal to the monthly salary, including the across-the-board raise. We noted that we are aware of the financial burden that a retroactive payment would place on the Treasury. For this reason, we requested that the implementation begin effective immediately. We also emphasized that payments must be made by the 15th of each month, without delay.

4. Duty Allowance We proposed a duty allowance—based on the “hard-to-fill profession” status—that would also be reflected in retirement benefits. Our proposal complies with the relevant legislation and has been drafted in a way that will not set a precedent for other institutions. We stated that we are prepared to present this proposal to a committee.

5. 4/B Extras Our colleagues working as extras are employed without bonuses and for very low wages. These colleagues have completed a bachelor’s degree and meet the necessary requirements. Changing the contract type to ensure these conditions are met had even been discussed previously. We demanded that they be transferred to permanent staff.

6. Artists Not Assigned Roles and Regional Allowance Artists who cannot receive incentives because they have not been assigned roles are effectively being penalized without any formal punishment. We brought this issue to light. We also voiced our demand for a regional allowance for our colleagues in Istanbul.

7. Assignment Based on Special Circumstances We requested flexibility in assignments for special circumstances, such as spousal situations.

8. Coordination meetings We were excluded this year from the annual coordination meeting held with union participation. We reminded them that issues not resolved in the collective agreement are still pending.

9. Sivas State Theatres There is a report stating that the theater building is not earthquake-resistant, and approval for relocation has been granted. We demanded that work not continue in this building and that the stage be moved to a safe location this season.

10. Istanbul Opera Soloists We raised the issue of soloists not being assigned roles. It was requested that the matter be addressed separately.

Outcome of the Meeting

At the end of the meeting, we secured commitments on three issues:

A coordination meeting will be held with the participation of department heads and our union. Our proposal regarding duty allowances will be investigated and addressed as a priority. The issue concerning the Istanbul Opera soloists will be addressed separately.

We reiterated that we are ready to present all the drafts and cost analyses we have prepared.

We will closely monitor the process and continue to share updates with you.

Our struggle for the labor, job security, and dignity of public artists continues.

KÜLTÜR EMEK-SEN