Journalists Progress Towards Orgnanization

Were increasing our efforts to organize media workers all around the country said Turkeys Union of Journalists chair Ercan İpekçi. The union is on the verge of gaining a majority at ATV and Sabah daily, following its confiscation by the TMSF.

Erol Önderoğlu

Talking at its regional assembly convened in southern city of Adana, Turkey's Union of Journalists (TGS) chair Ercan İpekçi said their efforts to organize journalists are progressing all around the country.

"We had organized especially among local media outlets in this region" he noted.

İpekçi recalled the notable progress in Istanbul -where all major media outlets are centered- in recent days.

Namely in ATV television and Sabah daily, the union had almost reached a 51 percent majority to gather the authority to collective agreements on behalf of the workers.

This progress is due to a handover of the outlets in question to the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) as guarantee for the debts owed by the firm's former owner.

"We must struggle for a new parliament which would work for the interests of the workers" said İpekçi, referring to the up coming general elections on July 22.

He thanked the union members at the Anatolian News Agency (AA) for their patience during the recent collective agreement bargaining, the only place in the country where the workers are organized.(EÖ/EÜ)

Origin

BÄ°A News Center

Erol Önderoğlu

[email protected]

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İstanbul Üniversitesi Fransız Filolojisi Bölümü'nden mezun. 1996'da muhabiri olduğu uluslararası Sınır Tanımayan Gazeteciler (RSF) örgütünün Türkiye temsilcisi olarak çalışıyor. 1999'dan beri İPS İletişim Vakfı'nın projesi olan bianet sitesinde, Hukuki Destek Masası koordinatörü, ifade özgürlüğü editörü ve yayın yönetmeni olarak çalıştı. 4.800'den fazla imzalı haber ve makalesi bulunuyor. Bizim Gazete ve Güncel Hukuk dergisi için haber ve makaleler yazdı. Halen bianet'te Medya Gözlem Raporları'nı hazırlıyor.