Northern Cyprus communications union TEL-SEN elects new 13-member board

The Union of Public Service, Transport, Communications, Information Technologies and Telecommunications Workers (TEL-SEN) held its general assembly and elected a new 13-member board. The new board will elect its chairperson and secretary general at its first meeting on Tuesday, and will allocate the remaining responsibilities at the same meeting.

The assembly was held in the union hall and was chaired by Arslan Bıçaklı, general chairman of the Federation of Turkish Cypriot Workers’ Trade Unions (TÜRK-SEN). TEL-SEN chairman Hakan Yüredi presented a report on the union’s work.

According to him, throughout this period the union defended not only the labor rights of employees, but also the Telecommunications Department itself, public funds and the population’s right to communications. Yüredi said the department faced serious shortages of staff, vehicles and equipment, as well as major occupational safety problems, which the union had fought to resolve.

He also addressed the protocol on fiber-optic communications. According to Yüredi, the union is not opposed to the technology or optical infrastructure; its objections concern the conditions of the process itself, oversight of it and legal guarantees. Demanding the disclosure of information, a feasibility study and transparency, TEL-SEN appealed to the High Administrative Court and held rallies and strikes.

“This is about the future of the Telecommunications Department, public oversight, workers’ rights, data security, competition and accountability for every kuruş paid by the population,” Yüredi said, adding that the union would not abandon its struggle.