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Turk-Is General Secretary Ergun Atalay addressed thousands of workers during the "We are struggling, we can't make a living" rally in Ankara’s Anadolu Square on Sunday, demanding reform in tax regulations that disproportionately burden income workers.
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Atalay urged the Turkish government to reduce the tax burden on employees and implement laws that benefit the working class.
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In his speech, Atalay emphasized the increasing financial strain on workers because of high taxes, pointing out that the first income tax bracket used to be 14 times the minimum wage 40 years ago but is now set at ?110,000 ($3.2K). He called for urgent reform to fix the first tax bracket rate at 15%.
“Forty years ago, the first tax bracket was 14 times the minimum wage. Today, it’s just ?110,000. We need to fix it at 15% immediately. We demand fairness in taxation,” he maintained.
He added that public sector wages, once a benchmark for workers’ pay, had declined over the past six months, pushing salaries to the level of the minimum wage.
Atalay also used his platform to advocate for legislative reforms to protect workers, urging the government to enact laws in favor of employees rather than leaving them vulnerable to employers' whims. He said that 90% of employers behave “without mercy” when it comes to workers’ rights.
“I call on those in power: pass a law that benefits workers. Don’t leave us at the mercy of employers – 90% of them treat us without compassion," Atalay asserted.
The rally saw participation from over 100,000 workers from across Türkiye, all demanding solutions to the economic hardships they face. Many carried banners with messages such as “Remove the heavy tax burden,” “We won’t pay the price for the broken economy,” and “We demand justice in taxation.”
“This country has retirees, subcontracted workers, and those affected by internship issues. It’s the responsibility of those in power and Parliament to resolve these problems.” Atalay said.
The workers, expressing their frustrations, chanted slogans such as “We will win by resisting,” “We demand fairness in taxation,” and “No peace without work and bread.”
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The rally was attended by various union leaders and political figures, including CHP MPs Omer Fethi Gurer and Gamze Tasciyer, as well as EMEK Party representatives.
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Atalay noted the growing unrest among workers who are increasingly unable to survive on their wages. He mentioned that public sector workers had seen their wage increases fail to keep up with inflation.“There’s no peace in our workplaces and no peace in our homes. With these wages, it’s hard to get by even for a week, let alone a month,” Atalay remarked.
He also highlighted that workers’ rights are often violated, particularly for those who attempt to unionize. “When we organize, they fire us. Pass a law that protects workers. Cases in labor courts drag on for seven years – by then, there’s no worker left to fight for,” Atalay said.
Atalay criticized the inflation figures announced by Türkiye’s official statistics agency, TurkStat, arguing that they do not reflect the reality faced by workers in markets and stores. “The inflation figures from TurkStat don’t match what we see in the market or the stores. This is unacceptable and needs to be addressed,” Atalay added.
Atalay also raised concerns about the growing disparity in pensions for those retiring in 2024 and 2025, predicting a 30-35% gap in pension amounts between these groups. He argued that this discrepancy will adversely affect numerous workers in various industries, including defense, energy, and infrastructure.
“We cannot accept this gap. It will affect numerous workers, especially in key sectors like defense, energy, and roads. Without these experienced workers, we cannot maintain our critical industries,” he said.
Atalay sent a strong message to the government, reminding them of the workers’ voting power. “We are 60% of this country. We are not your voting machine. We don’t have to vote for you every time. Listen to this crowd. You will regret it if you ignore us tomorrow,” he warned.
The rally also included a moment of silence for workers who lost their lives in workplace accidents, followed by the national anthem. Women, public workers, and retirees took the stage to share their personal stories of financial struggle and inequality.
The rally also saw discontent from some workers, with a section of the crowd booing Turk-Is leader Atalay during his speech.
Protesters held signs that read “No more yellow unions,” indicating frustration with what they perceive as complacency within the labor movement. Despite the protests, others in the crowd cheered on Atalay with chants of, “This is our leader, this is our union.”
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