Action from Dev Emekli-Sen in front of SSI: Regressive increase and root pension reaction

Members of DİSK Revolutionary Pensioners' Union (Dev Emekli-Sen) Aegean Regional Representation came together in front of Konak Social Security Institution (SGK) to react to the economic conditions of retirees and the fact that the linear increase given to working civil servants is not reflected in their pensions. DİSK Dev Emekli-Sen Central Executive Board (MYK) Member Ercan Çınarlı was the first to speak at the action. After Çınarlı's opening speech, the press release was read by DİSK Dev Emekli-Sen Aegean Regional Representative Hüseyin Özkaynak.

“PENSIONERS FACE DEEP POVERTY”

Drawing attention to the principles of social rule of law and equality in the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, Özkaynak said that the implemented economic and wage policies are exposing retirees to increasingly harsh conditions.

Stating that the livelihood difficulties of millions of retirees have reached a point that cannot be ignored, Özkaynak said, "Pensioners have become the most unprotected segment of society, tested by the deepest poverty. The anger and justified rebellion of millions of retirees has reached a level that can no longer be postponed or ignored."

“THE PROGRESSIVE INCREASE SHOULD ALSO BE REFLECTED ON PENSIONERS”

Özkaynak criticized the fact that the additional remuneration given to working public servants was not reflected to retirees, and said that before the election, statements were made that the increase would also be applied to retirees, but later retirees were excluded from the scope.

Arguing that the practice widens the income gap between employees and retirees, Özkaynak said, "One of the two teachers who taught at the same school for years was sentenced to a lower income because of retirement. A large income gap was created between healthcare workers working in the same hospital due to retirement. The income of the retiree was pushed below half of the salary of his actively working colleague."

Özkaynak stated that the linear increase should be applied not only to retired civil servants but also to all retirees, including SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees.

CALL TO THE Constitutional Court

Özkaynak also touched upon the judicial process regarding the gradual increase not being reflected on retirees, and stated that the issue was before the Constitutional Court (AYM) and called on the high court.

Özkaynak said, "The Constitutional Court must fulfill the requirements of public justice, the principle of the social state and equality before the law; it must make its decision regarding the regulations that we think create inequality for retirees."

“STOP PAYMENT APPLICATION”

Özkaynak said that the loss of income experienced by retirees is not limited to the increase in income, and argued that the reduction of pension rates and the root pension system also impoverish retirees.

Özkaynak said, "Millions of retired workers, farmers and small tradesmen are locked into the root pension practice. While official raise rates are applied to root pensions, millions of retirees spend their raise periods either without receiving an increase or with symbolic increases. The lowest pension is far from providing living conditions worthy of human dignity."

Stating that the monthly differences between those who retired on different dates should be eliminated, Özkaynak said that a comprehensive adjustment law should be enacted.

“RETIREMENT IS NOT A BLESSING, IT IS AN EARNED RIGHT”

Özkaynak also reacted to the differences in examination co-payments and prescriptions and medicines collected from retirees in health services, and demanded that these practices be abolished.

Underlining that pensions cannot be considered as social aid, Özkaynak said, "Pension is not a social aid, a favor or a charity. It is the constitutional and legal equivalent of the sweat shed in the factories, fields, schools, hospitals and workshops of this country and the premiums paid for years."

THEY LISTED THEIR DEMANDS

Özkaynak listed the demands on behalf of Dev Emekli-Sen; He demanded that the fixed increase given to working civil servants should be paid to civil servant retirees along with retroactive losses, that the said increase should also include SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees, that monthly pension rates should be increased and that the root pension application should be terminated.

Özkaynak also called for increasing the minimum pension by taking into account humane living conditions, enacting a comprehensive adjustment law, abolishing health contributions and ending the obstacles to union organization of retirees.

The statement said, "We do not want charity, we want our rights. We have produced for years, we have created this country; today, we refuse to be condemned to hunger, loneliness and poverty with poverty wages. We are determined to continue the struggle for a humane life in every field for all retirees, including civil servants, workers and tradesmen."