Lay-Offs Not Due to Finances

The fact that the Dogan Journalism Company is preparing to buy "Vatan" newspaper proves that the recent controversial lay-offs in several of the media group's newspapers were not due to financial difficulties, says lawyer Rana Yilmaz.

Yilmaz had advised those affected by the lay-offs to file a suit without delay.

At the end of June, 41 people had been dismissed at the "Radikal" newspaper. The justifications given were economic difficulties and that the newspaper was losing money.

Interested in Vatan newspaper

However, the owner of "Radikal", the Dogan Journalism Company, yesterday initiated a meeting with Kemer Publishing and the Independent Journalists' Publishing companies which own the "Vatan" newspaper in order to take over their shares, says the Istanbul Stock Exchange.

This information also took place in today's (18 July) "Vatan" newspaper.

No financial problems after all

Lawyer Yilmaz said, "On the one hand staff is dismissed for economic reasons, on the other hand, a newspaper is being bought. This means there are no financial problems after all."

Yilmaz encouraged those dismissed to file suits in order to demand back their positions within 30 days of dismissal. (TK/EÜ/AG)