Sputnik Turkish employees to go on strike after disagreement and threat on collective bargaining talks

Duvar English

Sputnik Turkish journalists will go on strike if their demands are not met, the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) announced.

TGS Secretary General İlkay Akkaya said that the employer was far from agreeing on demands and that they threatened to fire 20 people during the talks.

Akkaya said “Those who think that employees can violate our Constitution by not respecting their right to union are greatly mistaken. Being a member of a union and signing a collective bargaining agreement are also under constitutional guarantee. Respect our union right, do not commit crimes. As soon as possible, listen to the demands of your employees, who have made a great sacrifice for years,” 

“Annual inflation in Turkey is over 100 percent. Today, we are only hanging the decision to strike, but if we do not receive a positive response to our demands in a short time, we will go on the actual strike without delay,” Akkaya added.

The TGS hung the decision to strike in front of Sputnik Istanbul and Ankara offices.

The Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) reported an annual inflation rate of 38.21 percent in June, whereas the independent inflation group ENAG put the figure at 108.58 percent. Millions of Turks cannot make ends meet due to soaring cost of living.

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