Occupy Karşı Newspaper Ends With Agreement
[Mesthead:Karşı Resistance]
[Headline: WE ARE HERE!]
[Dear Reader, we, as the laborers of Karşı newspaper, are after our rights which have been closed with an executive decision. Just as we have not abandoned our principles, we are not abandoning our “building” until we get what is rightfully ours.]
Protesting for the past 47 days and refusing to leave the newspaper premises, Karşı Newspaper employees announced the end of their occupation. Declaring that they got part of their dues from their employer, Karşı protestors said they would continue their legal struggle for the rights that they have yet to reclaim.
They continued to prepare Karşı Resistance in pdf format throughout their resistance, with a four-page special issue on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, distributed as a supplement to Yurt, BirGün, Evrensel and soL newspapers.
Karşı protestors who took part in the Resisting Workers Solidarity Platform and talked with many political parties and non-governmental organizations ended the occupation on May 30, the 47th day of their resistance, after receiving part of their dues.
Agreement on day 47
Karşı protestors declared on the 47th day of their resistance, May 30, 2014 that they had reached an agreement with Turan Ababey, the owner of the newspaper.
"We have decided to end the occupation of the newspaper building seeing as the amount received comes out to about half of our 39-person resistance group’s due, and when divided up, almost covers the progress payments of our colleagues receiving less pay.
"Our individual legal struggle will continue for the remaining amount due. As the resistance team, we feel the need to remind the employees who didn’t join the resistance and have not yet taken legal action that the judiciary is still an option if they want to collect their dues from the executives."
Making media history
Employees said the "Karşı Resistance" will go down in the history as an invaluable rights struggle with the victory of those who resist.
“Laborers in media in Turkey are prone to being fired, to lack job security, to mobbing, and to having their livelihood depend on one word that comes out of an executive’s mouth.
"Most media workers cannot run the risk of protecting their personal rights and professional ethics, of fighting for their rights, and the ones who do run that risk see it as a struggle to be approached only from an individual and legal angle."
Employees thanked everyone who showed their solidarity, and Progressive Lawyers’ Association, Republican People’s Party (CHP) İstanbul Parliamentary Representative Melda Onur and Bakırköy Municipality in particular.
Karşı Newspaper owner Turan Ababey had declared that the one-month-old newspaper would be published for the last time on April 14. Karşı Newspaper employees had started a resistance occupying the newspaper building when they were dismissed with no legal justification or compensation payment. (EA/PU/BM)
* Click here to read the article in Turkish.