Employees of the Traffic Management Authority have announced a mandatory work stoppage and a warning strike this week until all demands are met. They stated, "We have found no other way, as our requests and appeals have been clear and numerous. We have repeatedly responded to wishes to continue performing our duties, but circumstances have prevented that. We will announce the next steps later."
In a statement, they explained, "Currently, we are experiencing delays in the payment of our salaries, which do not exceed $190. Since we have always demanded equal treatment with public sector employees, we find ourselves facing the argument of our exceptional status as employees in a public institution and the different process regarding the transactions related to our salaries and their supplements. We at the Traffic Management Authority have long suffered from this unfortunate discrimination among public sector workers. Despite the enormous pressure of transactions in our institution and the significant resources it generates for the state's treasury, we are always treated with unprecedented contempt for our efforts, leading to delays in our entitlements and constant hindrances in our affairs at every opportunity."
They added, "We have been deprived of all kinds of grants for years, although our internal system explicitly states their provision. Moreover, allowances for scientific attainment and actual service are not applied at all, contributing to the frustration of employees and enhancing their sense of injustice. They are always required to perform their duties to the fullest, while their rights are blatantly violated. Additionally, as the authority has begun collecting service fees, all the work and effort involved in this collection process falls on us as authority employees."
They called on the state to "find a legal formula through which employees can receive a 'fair' fixed percentage of the service fees collected by the authority, which have recently been established without a clear mechanism for their disbursement. They reminded that several institutions and ministries have resorted to this solution to support their employees amid the collapse of salary value, increased taxes, and the cost of living, to ensure smooth operations and continuity in public departments."
Furthermore, they noted that "the poor organization of work and the absence of suitable conditions and environment affect the dignity of both employees and citizens alike every day and every hour, which is completely unacceptable. Additionally, there is a constant threat of our dismissal if we resort to strike action, which is a legitimate right, due to our deprivation of incentives and assistance approved by the Cabinet, as well as the procrastination of our Board of Directors in approving the budget that guarantees our rights. The abuse we suffer continues despite our repeated demands to improve living conditions, which have not received a response to this day."
