“Not a Celebration, but a Protest on Retirees’ Day”

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“Not a Celebration, but a Protest on Retirees’ Day”

07.07.25, Monday

On the occasion of Retirees’ Day, Emekli Memur-Sen (Memur-Sen Retirees’ Commission)President Ali Küçükkösen held a press statement in Ankara’s Ulus Square, emphasizing that retirees gathered not to celebrate, but to demand their rights amid growing economic hardship.

Küçükkösen criticized the government for failing to reflect the additional supplementary salary raise (seyyanen zam) in retirees’ pensions. He stated that as of today, the amount not reflected in pensions stands at 16,150 TL per month, resulting in a loss of nearly 300,000 TL over two years.

emeklieylem1 He pointed out the increasing gap between active public servants’ salaries and retirees’ pensions, warning that the integrity of the social security system is at risk. Despite retirees raising their voices, authorities have remained indifferent, he said.

emeklieylem2 Rejecting the notion that retirees are a burden to the state, Küçükkösen emphasized:
“We paid our dues and taxes for years. We are not asking for charity—only for what we rightfully earned.”

Ahead of the 8th Collective Agreement negotiations in August, Küçükkösen affirmed that Memur-Sen will be the voice of retired civil servants. Their main demands include: emeklieylem3

- Applying the supplementary payment to pensions,
- Aligning pension levels with active duty salaries,
- Incorporating all additional payments into monthly pensions.

He concluded by asserting:
“Our state is strong enough to correct this injustice. What we need is a fair, inclusive, and democratic social security system that respects the rights of retirees and recognizes their right to organize.”