Research assistants threatens to go on strike if their salaries are not paid completely

Research assistants working at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) have reacted to the adjustments made to their salaries. 

With their future under threat, officials announced that they would go on strike if the regulations regarding underpayment of salaries and floor numbers continue.

Research assistants working in EMU expressed the difficulties they faced and the effects of these difficulties on their quality of life and academic life. They stated that financial difficulties, insufficient funds, lack of social rights and administrative pressures negatively affected their daily lives and academic studies.

Recall that on May 28, 2024, EMU Financial Affairs Directorate sent an email announcing an important development that directly affects research assistants. The e-mail stated that the work on rearranging Article 15 (2) of the Research Assistant Assignment and Scholarship Regulation is continuing and that May 2024 scholarship payments will be made without taking into account the minimum wage increase.

The statement by the assistants is as follows:
“Eastern Mediterranean University (We would like to share the main challenges we face as research assistants at EMU and the impact of these challenges on our quality of life and academic life. Financial difficulties, insufficient funds, lack of social rights and administrative pressures,It negatively affects the daily lives and academic studies of EMU research assistants. Addressing these problems is critical to increasing the academic efficiency of the university and achieving basic living conditions.

Working as a research assistant at EMU has become quite difficult lately. We are experiencing salary cuts and layoffs, especially due to financial difficulties. When it was announced that measures would be taken due to the university's financial crisis, we predicted cuts to our payments. However, the way these cuts were made left us in a difficult situation.

After the semester started, without any prior warning, our friends who accepted the position as research assistants under the old conditions were put under heavy financial pressure when they learned that their allowances would be calculated on the net minimum wage instead of the gross minimum wage. In addition to the cuts and layoffs, the burden on us as research assistants increased even more. Finally, it is said that the coefficients will be reduced and fall below the net minimum wage. This situation has increased our economic insecurity and caused us to have difficulty making ends meet. This situation has become even more challenging, especially in the TRNC, where the cost of living has increased.

Even though we work full time, our salaries are paid as scholarships and we cannot benefit from basic social rights such as insurance. This causes financial and social insecurity in the long run. However, with the amendment made to the Higher Education Law of the Republic of Turkey, it has been stated that faculty members working at foundation universities cannot be paid less than a certain amount based on their titles.Although Eastern Mediterranean University is a university inspected and accredited by the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Higher Education Law No. 2547 is ignored. In addition, it puts great pressure on our academic work. Apart from our responsibilities of both teaching and conducting research, we cannot devote enough time to our research due to the increased workload and administrative duties that come with the reduction in our numbers. Constant income anxiety and financial difficulties negatively affect our academic productivity. When we express our discomfort, we are exposed to mobbing and psychological pressure. Our internal objections are usually answered negatively, and this wears us out psychologically.

As research assistants, our demands are as follows: Improvement of our allowances and provision of basic social rights such as insurance. Considering that we work full time and work outside working hours when necessary, we would like our payments to be removed from the scholarship status and our payrolls to be arranged like other employees. This will both enable us to achieve economic security and reduce our concerns about the future.Our expectation from EMU administration is that they listen to our voices and make the necessary arrangements.

As research assistants, we work with great devotion to contribute to the academic success of the university. We want to be rewarded for our efforts and work under the conditions we deserve. This is also important to maintain the reputation and academic efficiency of the university.

On May 28, 2024Eastern Mediterranean University (The development, announced via e-mail by EMU Financial Affairs, threatens the living standards of research assistants working at the university. The relevant e-mail states that the revision of Article 15 (2) of the Research Assistant Appointment and Scholarship Regulation is ongoing and that May 2024 scholarship payments will be made without applying the minimum wage increase.

The Financial Affairs Directorate also stated that the difference that may arise after the completion of the necessary regulations will be paid to the research assistants in line with the decision of the Senate and ultimately the Foundation Board of Directors.EMU research assistants are among the most vulnerable groups within the institution as they are uninsured and unprotected by the union. For this reason, the guarantee that no regulation will be made regarding the reduction of floor numbers should be communicated to the research assistants in a written text.

Otherwise, if the salaries are not paid incompletely and the regulations regarding the number of floors continue, all research assistants will go on strike.

Future Steps: Investigators request a written guarantee.

Possible Action: Work stoppage in case of underpayment of salaries and regulations regarding floor numbers continue.  

As researchers, we demand that our voices be heard and our rights be protected. “We expect public support.”