Pensioners in front of the Constitutional Court building: 'Do not keep the raise case pending'

In the statement made by the Seyyanen Raise Raise Victims Platform in front of the Constitutional Court (AYM); "Do not keep the rolling wage increase case, which concerns millions of retirees, pending. We demand, on behalf of all retirees, that the Constitutional Court decide on the merits of the rolling raise case as soon as possible."

The "Seyyanen Raise Victims Platform", consisting of representatives of retiree unions, retiree associations and various democratic mass organizations, organized a protest in front of the Constitutional Court (AYM) yesterday in order to express their demands for justice and an immediate decision in the seyyanen raise case. NEW Party Şanlıurfa Deputy Mahmut Tanal also supported the action.

Retirees gathered behind banners saying "Pensioners' rights should not be delayed any longer" and "42 months of ongoing lawlessness" and chanted slogans such as "We will see at the ballot box", "We were one, we became thousands, we were silent and we became a voice" and "Not a minimum, but a humane life". Activists also carried signs saying "Your wrong decision is my whole life" and "Implement the Constitution". The press release was made by Retired Supreme Court of Appeals Member Seyfettin Çilesiz and Ali Erdem Gündoğan, one of the lawyers of the seyyanen raise case.

Seyfettin Çilesiz stated that they came together to make a press statement on September 25, but left the area without making the statement due to the sadness they felt after retired police officer Ali Şekeroğlu committed suicide. Reminding that the progressive raise given to working civil servants in July 2023 was not given to retired civil servants, Çilesiz stated that this situation led to inequality and injustice between working civil servants and retirees. Çilesiz said that they started a legal fight together with lawyer Ali Erdem Gündoğan and took the process to the Constitutional Court. Stating that the application made to the Constitutional Court was examined by the committee and sent to the relevant department to be discussed on the merits, Çilesiz noted that the application is still being examined and a decision is expected. Çilesiz stated that they requested the Constitutional Court to make a decision as soon as possible to eliminate the inequality and injustice in question.

Hunting. Gündoğan also said, "Civil servants and retired civil servants are subject to the same legislation. They have received the same raise for years. As long as this unfair wage increase continues, retired civil servants cannot make ends meet like all retirees today. A retiree does not want to pay for tea or bagels today. He does not want to eat the cheapest meal when he goes to the grocery store or restaurant. He wants to get the wage raise he is entitled to, and we call on the Constitutional Court: Do not keep this file waiting, decide as soon as possible. Why decide? Because "It is a miracle that retired civil servants or retirees can live on their pension today. It is truly a miracle. The increase given as 8 thousand 77 liras in 2023 is equivalent to 25 thousand 200 liras every six months. Not only is 25 thousand 200 liras not given to retired civil servants every month, but retired civil servants receive more than 1 million from the Social Security Institution today," he said.