First strike action in press in 29 years begins, as Tukuvaz Media Group –which includes Sabah daily, atv and several magazines- fails to meet the demands put forward by the Turkey’s Union of Journalists (TGS).
Union members and a group of supporters gathered before the media group’s offices in Balmumcu, Istanbul on Friday, once again calling on the employer to sit down for the negotiations.
Almost 500 workers among 900 organized in TGS. Although this is the case, participation in strike action remained limited, and work in none of the media was disrupted. Human resources department had tried to make workers sign a paper saying “I won’t participate in the strike”, told a journalist within the group. While many support the union and the strike, faced with the threat of loosing their job, they remain silent.
TGS chair Ercan Ipekci criticized the employer’s approach and condemned alleged pressure against organizing.
“The employer asked for us to postpone the strike, using the economic crisis as an excuse. We asked to sign a protocol involving articles that we agreed so far but they declined. This is unacceptable. Now the talk ends and action begins.”
After the collective bargaining agreement has failed to reach a conclusion in June 2008, the union declared strike action on December 17th. It's required to take action in 60 days, by law. Otherwise, it loses the right to go to another strike.
The media in Turkey more or less remains union free. TGS had organized and gained the authority to collective bargaining in Sabah and ATV while the Savings and Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF) confiscated the firms.
When the TMSF went to tender for the media companies, Turkuvaz won the bid. The company's closeness to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has been voiced. Following the take-over, the unionist journalists had been subjected to pressure, some were arbitrarily dismissed.(AGÜ)
