Kültür Emek-Sen

In the Press

News coverage of the union's actions and statements, grouped by event.

  1. 01Action
  2. 02Statement
  3. 03Coverage

June 2026

Joining Birleşik Kamu-İş

01 · Action

After working independently since 2019, joined a confederation and announced it at a press conference.

02 · Statement

“We felt we needed to carry our struggle to a wider audience.”

Original (Turkish): “Mücadelemizi daha büyük bir kitleye taşımamız gerektiğini düşündük.”

— Yavuz Demirkaya, General President · ANKA Haber Ajansı

March 2025

Investigated for announcing a strike

01 · Action

Made public the investigation opened against board member Burç Balcı for announcing the 13 January strike at the Bursa Regional State Symphony Orchestra.

02 · Statement

“Exercising the right to strike is not only a right but also a democratic responsibility.”

Original (Turkish): “İş bırakma hakkı kullanmak, sadece bir hak değil, aynı zamanda demokratik bir sorumluluktur.”

— Union statement · Evrensel

December 2024

Attack on a stage in Diyarbakır

01 · Action

Issued a statement against the protest targeting the play "Karımın Kocası" at the Diyarbakır State Theatre.

02 · Statement

“We will stand firm against those trying to silence art. Art does not fall silent.”

Original (Turkish): “Sanatı susturmaya çalışanlara karşı dimdik ayakta duracağız. Sanat, susmaz.”

— Union statement · Cumhuriyet

September 2024

Answering "the Tulip Era is over"

01 · Action

Answered the State Theatres director's remarks targeting artists and put questions to him in public.

02 · Statement

“It is a statement that casts suspicion on the institution and its employees.”

Original (Turkish): “Kurumu ve çalışanlarını zan altında bırakan bir açıklamadır.”

— Union statement · Cumhuriyet

March 2023

Duty pay for elected directors

01 · Action

Raised that elected artist-directors of orchestras were denied the statutory duty pay that appointed directors receive.

02 · Statement

“While it pays duty allowances to the artist-directors it appoints at the State Theatres, it does not pay them to the artist-directors elected in our orchestras, even though the law provides for it.”

Original (Turkish): “Devlet Tiyatrolarında, kendi atadığı sanatçı müdürlere ek görev ücreti ödemekteyken, orkestralarımızda seçimle göreve gelen sanatçı müdürlere ise, yasada yer almasına karşın bu görev ücretlerini ödememektedir.”

— Yavuz Demirkaya, General President · Ege'nin Sesi

Nov–Dec 2022

Permanent posts for contracted artists

01 · Action

As permanent posts for contract staff were debated, demanded that contracted (4/B) artists be included.

02 · Statement

“There are ballerinas and violinists who have worked for 20 years on insecure, non-union contracts. Enough is enough.”

Original (Turkish): “20 yıldır güvencesiz, sendikasız sözleşmeli çalıştırılan balerin, keman sanatçısı var. Artık yeter.”

— Yavuz Demirkaya, General President · Sözcü

April 2022

Pay supplement for artists

01 · Action

As civil-service pay supplements were debated, demanded that opera, ballet and theatre artists and technical staff be included.

02 · Statement

“Artists' salaries have fallen from the level of a director-general to that of a branch manager.”

Original (Turkish): “Sanatçı maaşları genel müdür düzeyinden şube müdürü düzeyine indi.”

— Yavuz Demirkaya, General President · Sözcü

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