President, come and spend with this money.

■ Cem YILDIRIM

Percent While millions of workers, crushed by inflation above 85, followed the minimum wage negotiations with all their attention, the statements of the president of TÜRK-İŞ, Ergün Atalay, were disappointing. While employer representatives pointed out that a minimum wage including social participation above inflation is possible for employees, Atalay said that 7,785 TL, which TÜRK-İŞ stated as the 4-person hunger limit, has lines red and that they will not sit on the table with a figure below this figure.

OPPORTUNITIES HAVE NOT STARTED

Atalay, who will represent the employees in the minimum wage negotiations, showed a “red line” of 7,785 lira for the minimum wage even before the negotiations began, prompting reactions from the employees. Responding to the unionists’ statement as if they were unaware of the severe poverty the workers experience, the workers said: “President, come on, even if this is the money, you can spend a month.” Atalay drives a 2014 Audi A6 car as his office vehicle. The president’s monthly salary is claimed to be 25,750 lire.

Atalay made statements before the meetings of the Minimum Wage Determination Commission that will take place on December 7 and 14. Atalay, in a television program he attended, was asked by the presenter: “You announced the amount required for a balanced and healthy diet for a family of 4 as 7,785 TL. He responded to the question “Is a figure below this number in the table acceptable?”

“It cannot be accepted on our behalf. You have to get on top. According to our calculation, the increase in food is 138 percent, I have no doubts about the intention of the Minister of Labor. Workers, poor, merchants, go to town, go to the market. We know what’s what from A to Z.”

The poverty limit is 25,365 TL

According to the TÜRK-İŞ Hunger and Poverty Line Survey, which shows the change in the living conditions of employees, the “hunger limit” for a family of 4 was 7,786 lira in November. In the investigation, the “poverty line” was calculated at 25,365 lire. The “cost of living” for a single employee was determined to be 10,171 lire per month.

Atalay defended himself like this

TURKISHIn his statement to SÖZCÜ, İŞ Chairman Ergün Atalay said, “We try to create a perception as if we accept the hunger limit as the minimum wage. When I was asked at the negotiating table, I meant that the hunger line is in the middle and I’ll talk about that. We have also received an increase below the hunger limit so far. But that was the desire of the base, ”he said.

Atalay stated on the television program that he was asked if he would accept a minimum salary at the limit of hunger, and he said: “In response to that question, I said that we definitely would not accept it, that it was already a minimum wage.” hunger limit, and that we could discuss proposals above this amount. Those who watch the broadcast will understand much better what I mean. May our workers rest in peace, we will fight in the best possible way,” he said.