Union protests tax hikes, price increases in 20 provinces

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The Progressive Trade Unions Confederation (DİSK) yesterday held demonstrations in 20 cities across Turkey, including İstanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, and Diyarbakır, to protest the recent price and tax hikes.

In Beşiktaş, İstanbul, DİSK members gathered to voice their opposition to rising prices and the cost of living. Speaking there, DİSK Chair Arzu Çerkezoğlu said, "We raise our voices together against this unjust system: We demand justice in income and taxes!

"The price hikes and tax increases are relentless. Every day, we witness new increases, affecting everything from fuel to basic food items. They gave with one hand after the elections, and now are taking it away with the other hand."

Ahead of the May elections, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's government made substantial election spending and pledged significant increases in wages. Following the elections, there was a 35% increase in the minimum wage and substantial raises for the lowest salaries for civil servants and retirees.

However, after these wage increases, the government raised several taxes. The VAT was increased by two percentage points on many products and by 12 points on certain items. The Special Consumption Tax (STC) on fuel experienced its highest increase in history, leading to a 35% rise in fuel prices, which, in turn, affected the prices of various other goods.

The government claims that the tax increases were necessary to address the financial burden caused by the devastating earthquakes in February.

DİSK, on the other hand, makes the following demands for tax justice:

• Reduce unfair indirect taxes such as VAT and SCT.
• Lower the first bracket income tax rate for employees to 10%.
• Increase tax bracket levels.
• Shift the focus of taxation from wages and consumption to profits and rents. Establish a tax system where those with higher income pay higher taxes, and those with lower income pay less.
• Raise the lowest pension to the level of the minimum wage and increase all other pensions accordingly.
• The most crucial way to compensate for income losses among the working class is through the right to unionize and strike. Remove all obstacles hindering the exercise of these rights.

(AÖ/VK)