DİSK holds nationwide pensioner protests: 'We cannot make ends meet, enough is enough'

While debates regarding minimum wage and pension hikes continue, DİSK Emekli-Sen member pensioners held simultaneous press conferences across Turkey titled "We cannot make ends meet, enough is enough." The pensioners organized under DİSK held their statement in İzmir in front of the Konak Social Security Institution (SGK). The statement on behalf of the pensioners was delivered by DİSK Emekli Sen Aegean Regional Representative Sabahattin Yeşiltepe.

Yeşiltepe called on the government to raise the lowest pension to the level of the minimum wage and to apply the same rate of increase to pensions as the minimum wage hike.

"PENSIONS WILL BE SET EVEN FAR BELOW THE MINIMUM WAGE"

Yeşiltepe emphasized that the current economic policies are pushing pensioners into deeper poverty.

Stating that even with the upcoming raise rates, both the minimum wage and retiree pensions will remain below the hunger threshold, Yeşiltepe said:

“December is the month for determining the minimum wage, which dictates how millions of workers and their families will live for the next year. The minimum wage, which is already clear to be set at a starvation level this year, will fall below the hunger threshold from the very first months of the year. On the other hand, the 'official inflation rate' will be announced by TUIK in the first days of the year. Once again, an inflation rate that does not reflect the living conditions of laborers and retirees will determine the raise rates applied to the salaries of workers and the pensions of retirees. In Turkey, where the minimum wage remains below the hunger threshold, retiree pensions will be set even far below the minimum wage. And retirees will be expected to find housing, visit doctors, cover their grocery shopping, and pay their bills with pensions that do not even reach half of the hunger threshold.”

''WE WILL NOT GET USED TO THE POVERTY THEY IMPOSE ON US''

Pointing out that retirees will continue to try to survive on a pension equal to half the hunger threshold in 2025, Yeşiltepe used the following expressions:

“We live in a country where it is not difficult to predict the government's policies and foresee tomorrow's conditions from today. However, we also declare that we will not get used to the misery, hunger, and poverty they have imposed on us for years. We will not get used to the imposition of a minimum wage below the hunger threshold. We will not get used to the imposition of retiree pensions below the minimum wage. We will not get used to our sweat being handed over to capital through direct and indirect taxes. In these days when the hunger threshold has reached 21,000 liras and the poverty threshold has exceeded 72,000 liras, the lowest retiree pension is being topped up to 12,500 liras with treasury assistance. This means that even after the raises based on inflation rates, millions of retirees who receive pensions below 12,500 liras will be condemned to pensions at or around the same amount. In other words, retirees will continue to receive a monthly pension in 2025 that is almost half of the 2024 hunger threshold .”

“THE LOWEST RETIREE PENSION MUST BE RAISED TO THE LEVEL OF THE MINIMUM WAGE''

Listing the demands of retirees for a humane life, Yeşiltepe noted the following:

"The demands of retirees are clear. The minimum wage should be determined by taking the poverty line into account. Assuming there are two workers in a household, the minimum wage should be at least around half of the poverty line. The lowest retiree pension should be raised to the level of the minimum wage. Millions of retirees will be forced to survive on pensions lower than half of the new minimum wage to be announced. If the minimum wage signifies a sufficient and fair wage to provide a good standard of living for people and their families, then retirees also have the right to provide a good standard of living for themselves and their families. Retiree pensions should be increased by at least the same rate as the minimum wage hike. Percentage raises based on official inflation rates mean nothing to retirees. The lowest retiree pension should be raised to the minimum wage, and other pensions should be increased at the same rate. The collective bargaining union rights of retirees must be recognized. We are calling out to those who cannot find resources when it comes to workers, laborers, and retirees... The resources are in the palace, the resources are in official vehicles, the resources are in the incentives given to capital, the resources are in your profits, and in your rentier income!"

News Source: 12punto