Court rules in favor of Sputnik journalist fired for union activity

An İstanbul court has sided with journalist Nejdet Eksilmez, who was among the 24 journalists terminated by Sputnik Turkey for their involvement with the Journalists Union of Turkey (TGS). 

This ruling comes on the 99th day of the ongoing strikes, where journalists have been advocating for their reinstatement, recognition of union rights, and the establishment of a collective labor agreement. 

Announcing its decision yesterday, the İstanbul 4th Labor Court specifically acknowledged that Eksilmez was dismissed for union-related reasons, differentiating his case from other journalists due to his role as the workplace representative. Legal representation for Eksilmez came from TGS attorneys Beste Dönmez and Ülkü Şahin. 

The TGS lawyers argued that Sputnik's actions violated the Law on Unions and Collective Labor Agreements, citing Article 24, which safeguards workplace union representation. This article stipulates that employers cannot terminate the employment contracts of workplace union representatives without just cause, clearly stated in writing. 

In the first hearing, the court declared the dismissal invalid and ordered the immediate reinstatement of Nejdet Eksilmez. The ruling also mandated compensation for Eksilmez's salary and other entitlements during the termination process. 

Eksilmez expressed the significance of the victory, saying, "We consider this decision a crucial victory. As we have always stated, the employer unjustly terminated our contracts.  

“I'm not sure if there's a faster labor court decision in Turkey, but this decision in the first hearing, hopefully, will serve as a lesson. This verdict has demonstrated that all my colleagues were unfairly dismissed. The employer should return to negotiations promptly." (HA/VK)