The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has imposed a ban on the news about the strike in Akbank, one of the largest banks in Turkey after it postponed the strike last week.
The 1st Criminal Court of Peace in İstanbul has issued a media ban on the news about the strike in Akbank, following a cabinet decree to postpone the strike for 60 days on the pretext that "it would destabilise economic and financial stability". Trade unionists now cannot make statements in media or put an advertisement on the newspapers about the strike.
BANKSİS (Trade Union of Banking and Insurance Workers) declared last month that the collective bargaining negotiations between the trade union and the management of Akbank ended in disagreement. Semih Özen, the president of the trade union, stated that thousands of Akbank employees were wrongfully dismissed, although profits of the bank increased and the bank management did not accept any social or material improvement in the working conditions.
BANKSİS also put an advertisement on Sabah daily about the strike; however, Akbank filed an opposition against it, claiming that this advertisement included unfounded information.
‘STRIKE MAY DAMAGE AKBANK’S REPUTATION’
The court decision suggested that the strike might damage Akbank’s reputation, addressing the claims by the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) that the strike could influence the financial status of the bank adversely. The court imposed a media ban on the strike, on the grounds of preserving the public order and territorial integrity. Under the court's decision, the trade unionists will not be able to make a statement about the strike in any media channel.
