THE ARTIST’S LABOR AND EARNED RIGHTS CANNOT BE SACRIFICED TO ADMINISTRATIVE NEGLIGENCE!

THE ARTIST'S LABOUR AND VESTED RIGHTS CANNOT BE SURRENDERED TO ADMINISTRATIVE NEGLIGENCE!

Dear members, culture and art workers; In our announcement of 3 July 2026, we shared with the public that the June incentive bonuses of our artists serving under the General Directorate of Fine Arts (GSGM) had still not been paid.

However, despite the time that has passed, as of 14 July 2026 — although payments have been completed in the other units, above all the State Theatres and the State Opera and Ballet — only the June entitlements of our artists under the GSGM have still not been deposited.

For this reason, our union has not contented itself with merely monitoring the process; it has filed an official application with the Inspection Board of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, demanding that an administrative and disciplinary investigation be opened.

The principal legal grounds of our application are as follows:

Violation of the statutory period: while the other directorates-general within the same Ministry made their payments on time, the delay at the GSGM constitutes a service fault of the administration.

The principle of the individuality of financial rights: administrative or technical shortcomings in one unit cannot constitute a legal justification for delaying the vested financial rights of other artists.

The necessity of proceedings against those responsible: we have argued that the necessary administrative measures must be taken within the framework of Law No. 5018 on Public Financial Management and Control and Law No. 657 on Civil Servants, and that the nature of the incident should further be assessed under Article 257 of the Turkish Penal Code.

Violation of the equality principle and disruption of workplace peace: this de facto distinction created among artists serving within the same Ministry damages the equality principle guaranteed by Article 10 of the Constitution, and workplace peace.

Ministry officials have informed our union that the delay arose from "a technical adjustment" and that payments are aimed to be made "shortly".

For our union, however, the issue is not merely when the payment will be made. What matters is that the necessary administrative and disciplinary proceedings against those responsible — those who caused this delay, failed to take the necessary measures or failed to conclude the process on time — be initiated without delay, and that these payments be made with statutory interest.

While our case at the Council of State concerning the underpaid incentives arising from the across-the-board raise continues with determination, we will not stay silent as our existing financial rights are delayed through administrative negligence!

The Culture Workers' Union will continue to pursue every administrative and legal process to protect our members' financial, personnel and union rights.

CULTURE WORKERS' UNION CENTRAL EXECUTIVE BOARD