Retirees gather in Eskişehir
A march was organized by the Eskişehir Labor and Democracy Platform with the call, "Retirees want the value of their labor."
12punto
Members of the Eskişehir Labor and Democracy Platform, who gathered at the Adalar Porsuk location on Sunday, February 11, organized a march to demand an increase in retirement pensions. CHP Eskişehir deputies Utku Çakırözer and Jale Nur Süllü also participated in the march.
RETIREES ATTEMPTED TO MARCH TO THE AKP BUILDING
When Platform members, who wanted to march to the AK Party building from the Adalar Porsuk location while chanting slogans such as "Come on, do the tea and bagel calculation now" and "Retirees will hold you accountable at the ballot box," were blocked by police officers who stated, "We do not allow press statements to be made in front of any political party during the election process." Consequently, the press statement was held on Asarcıklı Street.
"THEY ARE FORCING A LIFE OF MISERY UPON US AS OUR DESTINY"
Nalan Karagöz, a member of the Board of Directors of the All Retirees Union's Eskişehir Branch, who read the press statement, said the following:
"Before 2008, there was a legal guarantee that the lowest retirement pension would be 110 percent above the minimum wage. This legal guarantee was abolished by the AKP government through a regulation made under the name of reform in the Social Security Institution (SGK). Monthly accrual rates were continuously lowered every year, and we have arrived at this point. According to the latest January data from the Office Workers' Union (BES) research center, BES-AR, which is organized within the SGK, the judiciary, and the Ministry of Finance, the hunger threshold is 21 thousand 953 liras. The poverty threshold is 56 thousand 942 liras. The monthly cost of living for a single worker is 26 thousand 712 liras. The annual inflation rate recently determined by the Inflation Research Group (ENAG), which consists of scientists, is 129.11 percent. The monthly minimum wage is 17 thousand 2 liras. While all scientific data is clearly visible, the AKP's palace government boasts about setting the retirement pension at 10 thousand liras and is forcing a life of misery upon us as our destiny. We do not accept this. We will not surrender to misery." (Meltem Karakaş)