According to the data announced by TURKSTAT, inflation was 3.28 percent in November and 61.98 percent on an annual basis.
Pointing out that the increase in civil servant salaries in July was eroded, Kahveci emphasized that 27.65 percent of the increase was eroded.
Stating that the average civil servant salary is at the level of 25 thousand 500 TL, including social benefits, Kahveci emphasized that civil servant salaries have decreased by 7 thousand 50 TL due to inflation.
"Even to bring the purchasing power of our civil servants to the level of June, it needs to increase by at least 7 thousand 50 TL. With the December inflation, the meltdown will grow further and the economic difficulties experienced by public employees and retirees will continue to intensify. There is a fact that happens every period, and that is that the increases in civil servant salaries begin to fall behind even the inflation target. Accordingly, the salary increases agreed upon as a result of collective bargaining negotiations have ceased to be a raise and have become merely an advance inflation payment," Kahveci said.
PUBLIC EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS DON'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO WITHSTAND THE INCREASES
Pointing out that public employees and retirees should be given a salary increase that coincides with market realities, Kahveci stated that an increase above the real inflation is necessary to increase purchasing power.
"This meltdown in salaries must absolutely be stopped. The only way to achieve this is to provide welfare benefits to public employees. Even TURKSTAT's figures say that neither public employees nor our retirees have the strength to withstand the price increases they face in the marketplace. We call on the authorities to act according to this fact and make an increase in January, including the welfare allowance for public employees," Kahveci added.