Seyyanen Raise Victims Platform, which was established with the participation of 26 separate retiree organizations in order to draw attention to the economic problems experienced by retirees, especially the Seyyanen raise demand, came together in Kadıköy, Istanbul.
The statement, held in front of the Atatürk Monument in Kadıköy İskele, started with the reading of the National Anthem, following a moment of silence for Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, his comrades in arms, those who lost their lives in the earthquakes, and retired police officer Ali Şekeroğlu, who committed suicide in front of the Constitutional Court in Ankara.
Retirees shouted slogans such as "Budget for retirees, not for the palace" and "Not for money, but for our dignity."
“MR. HIGH COURT, WE ARE WAITING FOR A SOLUTION”
Honorary Member of the 7th Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Seyfettin Çilesiz, spoke about their legal struggle regarding the wage increase.
Addressing the Constitutional Court, Çilesiz said:
"We are calling out to the Constitutional Court from Kadıköy Square in Istanbul. And we say, esteemed Supreme Court, we demand and expect you to bring a solution to this problem that has a human scent in it as soon as possible, without being influenced by anything, without turning your back on people, nature, reality, without being stuck in rigid patterns.
I want to renew this call; We demand and expect you to bring a solution to this problem that has a human scent in it as soon as possible, without being influenced by the Supreme Court, without turning your back on people, nature and reality, without being stuck in rigid patterns.”
THE COURT DECISION IS EXPECTED FOR SEYYANEN INCREASE
EYT and Pensioners Federation President Arzu Lastikçi read the joint statement on behalf of the platform.
In the statement, it was argued that not reflecting the additional rectilinear payment of 8 thousand 77 TL given to working civil servants on July 15, 2023 to the pensions of civil servant retirees increased the salary difference between employees and retirees.
It was stated that Seyfettin Çilesiz took the issue to the judiciary, and that Ankara 9th Administrative Court rejected the case and the appeal application was rejected by majority vote.
In the statement, it was stated that the two individual applications made to the Constitutional Court were later combined and the file numbered 2026/7162 was sent to the Department for review on the merits.
“ALL PENSIONERS ARE WAITING FOR THE SAME DECISION”
The platform argued that the demand for a rolling raise concerns not only retired civil servants but also discussions regarding the incomes of SSK and Bağ-Kur retirees.
The following statements were made in the joint statement:
"All retirees demand that the injustice in wage increases, which victimizes retired civil servants, be remedied as soon as possible and that the file of Seyfettin Çilesiz, Honorary Member of the 7th Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals, be examined and decided as soon as possible."
The platform stated that pensions are insufficient to cover basic housing, food, health and clothing expenses and requested a progressive raise for retired civil servants.
THEY DRAW ATTENTION TO ADJUSTMENT AND MONTHLY BINDING RATES
In the joint statement, it was emphasized that the problem of retirees is not limited to the wage increase.
It was reminded that with the Law No. 6283 enacted in 2012, an adjustment regulation was made especially for SSK employees who retired before 2000, and it was stated that those who retired in different periods were also waiting for a new adjustment regulation.
In the statement, which also drew attention to the changes made in the pension system after 2008, it was stated that the monthly pension rate, which was 75 percent for 25 years of service for civil servants subject to Law No. 5434 before October 1, 2008, was determined as 2 percent for every 360 days in the system within the scope of Law No. 5510, and reached the level of 50 percent for 25 years of service.
“A LIVING INCOME”
The platform requested a more comprehensive regulation in the retirement system and made the following call:
"Therefore, suffering from a rolling increase is only one of the problems of retirees. The adjustment problem must be solved, the losses in the pension system must be eliminated, the root pensions must be corrected, the purchasing power must be preserved and the employee-pensioner salary balance must be re-established."
It was stated that retirees' expectations were not "temporary and partial increases" and a "fair, predictable and sustainable" retirement system was requested.
THEY commemorated ALİ ŞEKEROĞLU
In the statement, 60-year-old retired police officer Ali Şekeroğlu, who participated in the action that the platform had previously planned to hold in front of the Constitutional Court, was also mentioned.
According to the platform's statement, Şekeroğlu attempted to end his life after telling those around him that he was having trouble making ends meet and his family's economic problems. Şekeroğlu, who was taken to the hospital, died despite the interventions.
In the joint statement, it was reminded that Şekeroğlu was carrying a sign saying "Not for money, but for our honor" and that this showed that the demands of retirees were not just about a salary increase.
“THE BLADE IS NOW DONE”
The platform addressed the government and made the following statement:
"It is now at a dead end! Our retirees have no strength left to endure, no strength to wait. It is unacceptable for people who have served this country for a lifetime to be left alone with anxiety, poverty and despair in the last period of their lives."
None of our retirees should seek to end their lives as the last solution to their economic difficulties. A person giving up on life by saying 'I can't take it anymore' left a wound in all of our hearts that won't heal. Suicide should not be the last resort. "Death should not be the last resort."
Following the statement, the following call was made:
"Our people must be held by the hand, their voices must be heard and they must be enabled to live an honorable life! Retirees today do not only want a pension to live on; they want the reward of their years of labor, the life they deserve and to be listened to."
