United Pensioners Union: "We did not create the crisis, and we will not pay the bill"

The United Pensioners Union (BES) called for a demonstration in Kartal Square, where pensioners shouted, "We will not be the impoverished pensioners of the individuals we elected who enrich themselves," and the event drew attention with its high level of participation.

The demonstration was attended by: EYT and Pensioners Federation President Arzu Lastikçi, the Board of Directors of the All Pensioners 2021 Union and the Beykoz Branch Management, Kartal Mayoral Candidate Neşe Büklü Çokyiğit, Kartal ADD Branch Manager Cem Arıkan, CHP Kartal Women's Branch, CHP Kartal Pensioners Commission, Kartal DEM Party District Management, Kartal Saadet Party District Management, TKP Kartal, 27th Term Member of Parliament Musa Piroğlu, Kartal City Council and Women's Assembly, Kartal Labor Party (EMEP) President and District Organization, Emekli-Sen Kartal Branch Management, Kartal Hasat Art Workshop, Çekset Art Center, Gebze Pensioners Association, UİDDER, Aşkale Federation, and Ardahan Associations.

"PENSIONERS ARE BEING CONDEMNED TO DEEP POVERTY"

Reading the press statement, United Pensioners Union General Secretary Aysel Lüle stated, "We, the pensioners, will not pay the price for the government's wrong policies," and delivered the following speech:

"TÜİK (Turkish Statistical Institute) announced the inflation rates on January 3, which are directly decisive for the salary increases of 16.2 million pensioners. As always, the suppressed inflation data announced by TÜİK under political instruction did not mislead us pensioners and ignored us. While determining the inflation data, TÜİK showed the percentage contribution of items that affect inflation the most—such as daily essential consumer goods like bread, cheese, meat, olive oil, and house rents—as low, and announced the 6-month inflation rate as 37.57%. This rate does not reflect the truth and, unfortunately, condemns pensioners to deeper poverty with each passing day.

While pensioners in our country buy bread at the same price, unfortunately, pensioners are being segregated into SGK, Bağ-Kur, and civil servant retirees; while a 50% increase is envisioned for civil servant retirees, a 37.57% increase is envisioned for SGK and Bağ-Kur retirees."

"ONE MP'S SALARY IS EQUIVALENT TO THE SALARY OF 22 PENSIONERS"

"According to these increases, the monthly salaries of those who are currently serving as members of parliament and those who are retired will be approximately 220,000 TL. In our country today, where the poverty line is 50,000 TL, the hunger threshold is 16,000 TL, and the minimum wage is 17,002 TL, the average increased salary of 10,500 TL deemed appropriate for the pensioner means 'don't live, just die.' The monthly salary of each of the 300 retired MPs we elected, who will approve the alms-like salary to be given to pensioners in parliament, is equivalent to the salary of 22 pensioners. A salary far below the minimum wage deemed appropriate for pensioners is a constitutional crime. As the name suggests, the minimum wage is the lowest base wage. As 16.2 million pensioners, we do not accept a wage below this figure.

We know that the reason pensioners are getting poorer every year is not inflation, but the policy implemented by the political power; inflation is the result. For about 21 years, the purchasing power of pensioners has decreased every year. In the past, a family of 4 could sustain their life with one pension, but today, a family of 4 cannot make ends meet in a house where 3 pensions enter. Before the AKP, pensioners had purchasing power. We, the pensioners, do not want alms; we want the return of our taxes that we paid in advance by working for years and the return of our labor. We want a life worthy of human dignity. We do not want those we elected to get rich; we want the society's share of welfare to increase."

PENSIONERS LISTED THEIR DEMANDS

Lüle explained their demands as pensioners as follows:

• Increasing the base wage (root salary) of the lowest pension to 17,002 TL.
• Applying the 85% increase made to the Presidential budget to all pensioners at the same rate without discrimination.
• Abolishing the contribution fee in healthcare.
• Increasing the bonus given for two religious holidays to the level of the minimum wage.
• Determining pension wages through collective bargaining by meeting with pensioners' unions.

"WE, THE PENSIONERS, WILL NOT PAY THE PRICE FOR WRONG POLICIES"

Stating that pensioners are not the cause of the crisis, Lüle concluded her words as follows:

"If there is an economic crisis in this country, we, the pensioners, are not the reason for it. Savings should start with the presidential budget, MP salaries, public expenditures, tax amnesties granted to cronies, guarantees given to bridges, hospitals, and airports, and by cutting the salaries of those receiving at least 3-5 salaries.

In conclusion, we will not be the impoverished pensioners of the individuals we elected who enrich themselves.

We, the pensioners, will not pay the price for the government's wrong policies."

(Yüksel Fırat - Kartal'ın Sesi Newspaper)

News Source: 12punto