Call from CHP's Bağcıoğlu for Turkish Armed Forces retirees: 7-point demand for personnel rights

Retired Rear Admiral and Republican People's Party (CHP) Deputy Chairman Yankı Bağcıoğlu drew attention to the economic situation of retired Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) personnel following retirement pensions falling below expectations. Bağcıoğlu stated the following in a 7-point statement on X:

"THE STAFFING DEMANDS OF THE SPECIALIST SERGEANT COMMUNITY MUST BE MET"

"1/ As is the case for all retirees, the economic situation of military personnel is deteriorating day by day, and the promises and commitments made by those in the executive branch and the political parties holding the majority in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) are not being fulfilled.

2/ A perspective that takes a holistic approach to the personnel rights of Turkish Armed Forces members must be put forward.

3/ The Duty-Office Compensation granted to other senior officers has not been granted to Majors, who are senior officers of the TSK. Since the improvements made to active-duty Majors under other names are not reflected in the pensions of retired Majors, the ratio of retired-to-active salary for retired majors has fallen to 41%, a level not seen for any other military or civil servant retiree.

4/ Promises of office/duty compensation were made to non-commissioned officers (NCOs) but were not fulfilled. Compensation for lack of a permanent position should also be granted to NCOs who retire after working past the age of 55. It is unacceptable for the salaries of NCOs to fall below the minimum wage. The gap between active-duty and retired NCOs is widening in a negative direction.

5/ The staffing demands of the specialist sergeant community, which has given the most martyrs in the fight against terrorism, must be met.

6/ The working conditions of our contract privates, who have given as many martyrs in the defense of the homeland as our specialist sergeants, must be improved. They also face problems when transitioning to civil servant positions after serving for 7 years.

7/ Implementing positive discrimination in the hiring of unemployed specialist sergeants and contract privates who have experience working in difficult conditions for positions such as Contracted Forest Guard, Contracted Penal Execution and Protection Officer, and Neighborhood Watchman could be appropriate in terms of resolving grievances."

????TSK EMEKLİ PERSONELİ EKONOMİK DURUMU ????
1/ Tüm emeklilerin olduğu gibi askerin personelin de ekonomik durumu her geçen gün daha kötüye gitmekte, yürütme makamında olanlar, TBMM’de çoğunluğa sahip siyasi partiler tarafından verilen söz ve taahhütler yerine getirilmemektedir.…

— Yankı Bağcıoğlu (@YankiBagcioglu) January 22, 2024

News Source: 12punto