Sabah-ATV Journalists on Strike on Friday

Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) will be taking strike action in work places of ATV and Sabah daily on February 13. If realized, this will be the first strike in press in 20 years.

Noting that the employer firm Turkuvaz had not responded to calls for negotiation, TGS executive committee says its members stop work for their social and financial rights, as well as journalists' vocational rights.

After the collective bargaining agreement has failed to reach a conclusion in June 2008, the union declared strike action on December 17th. It's required to take action in 60 days, by law. Otherwise, it loses the right to go to another strike. 

The media in Turkey more or less remains union free. TGS had organized and gained the authority to collective bargaining in Sabah and ATV while the Savings and Deposits Insurance Fund (TMSF) confiscated the firms.

When the TMSF went to tender for the media companies, Turkuvaz won the bid. The company's closeness to the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government has been voiced. Following the take-over, the unionist journalists had been subjected to pressure, some were arbitrarily dismissed.(EÜ/AGÜ)