Atakum Municipality reassigns journalist Zerrin Somuncu as a cleaning worker at a wedding hall: 'Support my struggle'

In Samsun's Atakum district, following the March 31, 2024, Local Elections, the administration of CHP's Cemil Deveci was replaced by the administration of CHP's Serhat Türkel.

Changes took place within the municipality after the elections. Without any justification provided, journalists in the municipality's press unit were assigned to cleaning duties.

According to a report by İHA, Zerrin Somuncu, a journalist who has performed her profession for years and holds a press card issued by the Presidency, was removed from the Atakum Municipality Press, Publication and Public Relations Directorate, where she had worked with the title of journalist since 2019, and was assigned as a cleaning worker.

Somuncu, who has begun her new role as a cleaning worker, described her situation and requested support.

'TO CORRECT THE INJUSTICE...'

Stating that the situation she is experiencing is a great injustice, journalist Zerrin Somuncu explained the process as follows:

"When my assignment was notified, I went to my new workplace and received my new duties verbally from my supervisor, who was introduced to me as the wedding hall manager, with the warning that 'it must always be sparkling clean,' and then I began performing my new task. Despite the efforts of municipal bureaucrats who are aware of the injustice of the matter and the professional organizations I am affiliated with, days of positive communication with the mayor's office regarding the correction of this injustice unfortunately remained fruitless."

'3 PEOPLE WERE ALSO FIRED'

"Our photographer colleague in our team was exiled to the Directorate of Science Affairs for stone paving work, and our cameraman colleague was exiled to the Directorate of Cleaning Affairs as a street sweeper. Both of my colleagues, just like me, started their new duties to avoid losing their jobs. Before these reassignments, 3 people from our team were also fired."

News Source: İHA