Journalists' Union demonstrates in front of Sputnik Turkey

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The Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) protested against Russia-owned Rossiya Segodnya International News Agency (Sputnik), which fired 24 journalists following a decision by the union to go to strike at the agency.

The union held a demonstration today (August 8) at noon in front of the Sputnik office in Istanbul's Taksim Square, with the participation of the dismissed journalists. Press members from other institutions also showed their support.

Gökhan Durmuş, the President of TGS, made a brief speech, stating that Sputnik violated the Turkish Constitution and laws and committed a crime.

He mentioned that the strike notices posted by the union in Sputnik's Ankara office were taken down by employer representatives. He reported that TGS members were pressured to resign both in Ankara and Istanbul offices.

Durmuş said, "Our members have no concerns or desires other than improving their livelihoods. Pay attention to this office in Süzer Plaza; who pay monthly office rents of hundreds of thousands of liras in this building, suddenly they claim to face economic difficulties when it comes to the salaries of the journalists."

"No one should try to deceive us. Sputnik fired our 24 members not due to economic reasons, but because of their union affiliation," Durmuş added.

Durmuş called on the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Vedat Işıkhan, and public prosecutors, saying, "Do not allow the violation of laws and the Constitution," and added, "No institution, company, or individual is more powerful than the laws of this country. The dismissal of our 24 members just when our union announced strike action to start on August 17 is openly mocking this country's laws. In the face of this audacity, we want to see that there are laws in Turkey."

He warned the representatives and managers of Sputnik in Turkey, saying, "Don't be at ease. This struggle is not over; on the contrary, it is just beginning. We are coming here to hang the strike banner on August 17. To those of you who think you have solved the problems by firing union members, we say that this struggle will continue until they are reinstated and a collective labor agreement is signed. There are laws in this country. The legal rights and protections of workers exist in this country. This struggle will continue until you provide our union members with the wages and respect they deserve."

"We are living the economic crisis as we write it"

Following the demonstration, TGS Workplace Representative Nejdet Eksilmez spoke to bianet.

"Our demands are not only material; we also want our journalistic rights alongside our material demands."

Eksilmez, who has worked at Sputnik for about 12 years, mentioned that none of his colleagues were employed under Law No. 212, which applies to journalists.

Editor Özde Çelikbilek reminded that the strike is a constitutional right. She said they were dismissed due to their union struggle:

"We exercised our fundamental right, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, and that's why we were fired. Workers in Turkey have rights. People cannot be fired because of this.

"The economic conditions in Turkey are clear. Prices change every day, and there are price hikes. While we are writing about these issues, we are also experiencing them. We just want our rights.

"Our strike process will begin next week. We are starting a collective struggle together, both for the rights of our colleagues who are still working at the agency and also for ourselves to be reinstated.

"We have been involved in the labor movement for a long time. There is a lot of effort here. Therefore, for us, it is not something that can be easily given up and abandoned." (HA/PE)