Pensioners in Bilecik Demand Fair Compensation, Not Charity

From the heart of Bilecik, a chorus of discontent rises from our nation's retirees. The United Pensioners' Union, led by Provincial Chairman Mustafa Aksu, convened a press conference to voice their profound dissatisfaction with the current economic realities facing those who have dedicated their working lives to Turkey.

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We are not asking for charity, but for the updated value of the premiums we have paid.

Our pensioners are not merely asking for charity; they are demanding what is rightfully theirs – a fair return on the decades of contributions they have made to the Social Security Institution (SGK). The recent pension adjustments, hailed by some as an increase, have been effectively erased by soaring inflation, particularly in essential goods and utilities like electricity and natural gas. This leaves many struggling to put food on the table, with half their meager pensions consumed by bills alone.

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The salary increase given to pensioners at the beginning of the year has been nullified by the price hikes on consumer goods since March, and pension amounts have turned negative in April.

As Cumhuriyet, we stand with our pensioners in highlighting this critical issue. The narrative that pensions are unaffordable due to longevity or a skewed worker-to-pensioner ratio is a false one. The truth is, the economic mismanagement by the ruling party has created a crisis, and it is our elderly citizens who are bearing the brunt. They have paid their dues, and they deserve to live with dignity, not in perpetual financial precarity. We echo their call for an interim raise and a re-evaluation of healthcare contributions, which further strain their already diminished incomes.

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The 25% increase in electricity and natural gas prices in April 2026 makes it impossible for pensioners to hold on to life; pensioners cannot access food, and half of the pension received covers utility bills.