Journalists Progress Towards Orgnanization

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)