The Tarsus Labor and Democracy Forces protested the rising costs and high energy price hikes. “The exit from the crisis is possible only by pro-labor policies. We invite the government to listen to the humane demands of the people.”
Tarsus Labor and Democracy Forces group in Turkey: Exit from the crisis is possible with pro-labor policies
The Tarsus Labor and Democracy Forces protested the rising costs and high energy price hikes in Turkey. The components of the Labour and Democratic Forces gathered in front of the Yarenlik Area Clock Tower and emphasized that they are in favor of the pro-labor policies to get out of the crisis, and said, “We invite the government to listen to the humane demands of the people.”
Yasemin Yucel, head of the Tarsus education union Egitim-Sen branch, read the statement from the Forces of Cigli Labor and Democracy, an opposition group. Yucel’s statement accused TUIK, the official statistics department of the government that grossly undercalculates the real 105% + inflation to an imaginary 38%, of losing all its credibility. The wage increases tied to the officially declared inflation make the poor poorer” said the announcement. The announcement continued:
Workers and low-income earners are increasingly borrowing money, trying to end the month by taking more loans. The workers are forced to pay the price for this crisis, which they are not responsible for.
Workers, engineers, doctors, teachers, students, tradesmen have repeatedly expressed their loss of livelihoods due to the cost of living and economic instability. The one-man regime not only rejected these demands but openly threatened those who made them. The government should renounce this menacing attitude and solve the problems of the workers.
The way of an economic crisis is not to ignore it. The way out of the crisis is to develop labor-oriented policies, promote public understanding, and establish an economic structure based on production.
Demands
• The price increases on basic necessities such as electricity, natural gas, fuel, and transportation, especially food products, should be withdrawn immediately and taxes should be reduced.
• Direct income support should be provided to all those who lost their jobs in the crisis and whose incomes decreased.
• Layoffs should be banned, necessary measures should be taken to protect employment. Working conditions should be corrected and measures should be taken to ensure that workers work safely and in a healthy and safe condition.
• The basic requirements of those living below the poverty line must be met.
• Tax injustice should be stopped, the share of indirect taxes should be reduced, a system should be established in which less tax is charged than many earners.
• Guaranteed payments to government lackey corporations indexed to foreign currency should be canceled.
• The minimum pension should be raised to the minimum wage level and those who have gained the right to an early retirement should be entitled to a pension.
• These policies, which transfer resources to a handful of rich people who can earn interest income from the millions who barely get by using foreign currency-indexed deposits, should be stopped immediately.
Sendika.Org News (MB)