Demonstration in Ankara by Sputnik strikers

Mahir Bağış, the TGS Ankara Branch president said during the demonstration, "We will know we are not alone as long as you do not provide interviews or statements to Sputnik during the strike."

İstanbul

Demonstration in Ankara by Sputnik strikers

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The strike at Sputnik has reached its one-month mark where 24 journalists had been laid off while the collective labor agreement negotiations with the Turkey Journalists' Union (TGS) continued. On the 30th day of the strike, TGS held a protest in front of Sputnik's Ankara offices.

Several political parties, professional organizations, and civil society groups, including the Republican People's Party (CHP) MPs Okan Konuralp and Aliye Timisi Ersever, EMEP Labor Party (EMEP) MP Sevda Karaca, and Green Left Party MP Sinan Çiftyürek, expressed their support for the protest.

Mahir Bağış, the TGS Ankara Branch president, listed their demands during the protest, which included:

* Reestablishment of the negotiation table,
* Reinstatement of the 24 dismissed journalists,
* Recognition of trade union rights,
* Guarantee of a fair wage through a collective labor agreement.

Bağış stated that they had been insistent on negotiation from the first day they unionized at Sputnik. He remarked, "From the first day, the employer did not recognize or acknowledge the union or the demands of our members and, in the end, left the negotiation table." He also mentioned that Sputnik violated the constitution.

Bağış pointed out that Sputnik had made illegal hires during the strike and criticized the strikebreakers, saying, "Nine program producers who pride themselves on being senior professionals started their programs despite the strike. We are ashamed and saddened by these strikebreakers who disregard journalism ethics."

He continued, "Our motivation as a labor organization was solely to improve the economic and social rights of our members and ensure editorial independence. This is the reality that Sputnik's employer and managers refuse to understand. What the strikebreakers want to obscure and cover up with black propaganda is this reality."

"On the 30th day of our strike, we are once again shouting our demands from here: Return to the table that you abruptly left in an unlawful and unethical manner, reinstate our 24 members who were dismissed, recognize trade union rights, and guarantee a fair wage through a collective labor agreement."

Bağış emphasized their readiness to wait even longer if necessary but urged the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), and the Presidency of Communication not to wait. He said, "If this is not a banana republic, and if citizens' rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, we ask you to put a stop to this employer's audacity."

The statement made called for solidarity during the strike, stating, "A strike cannot continue without solidarity. We have drawn strength from your support so far." It called on individuals invited to Sputnik's programs to refrain from participating and show support for the strike. "We will know we are not alone as long as you do not provide interviews or statements to Sputnik during the strike," it concluded. (HA/PE)

Origin

BIA News Desk

Sputnik strike

Government says shopping boycott had no impact

Trade minister has said that credit card spending increased on Apr 2 despite the boycott, asserting that "the public has boycotted the boycotters."

BIA News Desk

Government says shopping boycott had no impact — The ruling AKP shared this photo showing a cafe operated by the İstanbul municipality, citing it as proof that the boycott was ineffective.

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has claimed that the nationwide shopping boycott held yesterday at the opposition’s call was ineffective.

“The opposition’s attempts to distract from corruption and bribery investigations and to damage the economy have failed, as our people stood by the national economy, local businesses, and trade,” Bolat said, referring to the corruption-related charges against the İstanbul mayor and dozens of other municipal officials currently in custody.

Referring to data from the Interbank Card Center (BKM), Trade Minister Ömer Bolat stated that card transactions rose from 14 billion liras on Apr 1 to 28 billion liras on Apr 2.

Bolat also noted that spending on Apr 2 exceeded the daily average for the period between Mar 3 and Mar 22. On Wednesdays in the last month, credit card spending ranged between 24.5 billion and 28.9 billion liras (1 US dollar = 38.9 liras).

"These results show that the public has boycotted the boycotters," the minister asserted.

BKM publishes spending data on its website on a monthly basis, and the most recent available figures are from February. The data cited by the minister does not appear on the site, and he has not provided clarification on this point.

Government officials have condemned the boycott as an act of "sabotage" against the national economy. Yesterday, several ministers shared photos of themselves shopping, urging the public to increase their spending in response.

The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) called for a boycott of pro-government business groups, following the Mar 19 detention of İstanbul Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu. CHP leader Özgür Özel cited mainstream media’s lack of coverage of the mass protests supporting İmamoğlu as the reason for the boycott.

As part of the campaign, the CHP embraced a call from student groups for a one-day “no shopping” action on Apr 2, urging citizens to abstain from all purchases for 24 hours. (VK)

Origin

Istanbul

boycott