Leftist Young Turks founder urges workers not to unionize in contentious staff meeting

young turks Cenk Uygur unionization
Cenk Uygur — the co-founder of the left-wing online network The Young Turks — scolded his employees, urging them not to unionize. Uygur has repeatedly claimed that he supports unions. (screenshots)

Democratic congressional candidate Cenk Uygur — co-founder of the left-wing YouTube opinion show The Young Turks — reprimanded his employees at a recent staff meeting, urging them not to unionize. The hypocrisy is that Uygur has repeatedly insisted that he supports unions.

The brouhaha erupted on Feb. 12, shortly after employees at The Young Turks tweeted its plan to unionize. Hours later, Uygur held a staff meeting for his 65 workers, and scolded them for trying to unionize.

“In the staff meeting, the network’s co-founder and influential host, Cenk Uygur, urged employees not to do so, arguing that a union does not belong at a small, independent outlet like TYT,” the Huffington Post reported.”

Witnesses claim that Uygur got upset and angrily threw papers around at the staff meeting:  “His talk ― at times emotional, the staffers said, with Uygur throwing his papers to the ground at one point, and chastising an employee ― seemed to contradict the progressive, worker-first ethos that TYT broadcasts to its millions of lefty followers.”

Several employees said they were “disappointed” by Uygur’s reaction, but remain undeterred in their desire to form a union to protect employee rights. “We’re just getting the company to live by its principles,” one employee said.

Uygur told the Huffington Post that TYT is too small for a union, which could spawn legal and bureaucratic costs that could sink the business.

“We’re in a precarious position. We’re in a digital media landscape where almost no one makes money or is sustainable.

For a smaller digital media company, those are absolutely real considerations. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a union. Everyone should know the full context. If folks say they don’t believe we’re in a precarious position, OK. And that’s their decision to make.”

Uygur said he wants to hold a secret ballot so TYT employees could vote on whether to unionize. He claims that many employees don’t want a union. However, many employees disagree.

In a Twitter statement today (Feb. 25), the TYT Union said it is moving forward with plans to unionize.

The group tweeted: “The way forward is clear. The Young Turks needs to respect the choice we have already made, instead of trying to pressure us out of it. #UnionStrong”

California State assemblywoman Christy Smith is running against Uygur for the U.S. Congressional seat vacated in October 2019 by polyamorous bisexual Democrat Katie Hill.

Smith trolled Uygur on Twitter, writing: “Cenk Uygur – how’s that whole “progressive” thing working out for you?” ?‍♀️

Christy Smith and Cenk Uygur are both vying for the California congressional seat vacated by Katie Hill.

Hill, who’s married, resigned in October amid bombshell revelations of her polyamorous, three-way sexual affairs, nude photo leaks, and admissions of excessive drinking.

In her resignation letter, Hill issued a perfunctory apology to “people who have been hurt.” Notice it didn’t say to people that SHE hurt — like her two young employees that she reportedly had sexual dalliances with.

Predictably, Hill blamed President Trump for her decision to resign.


(Source: The Story)

Keep in mind that if a married Republican lawmaker had sex with two 20-something staffers of different genders, he would be universally trashed as a sexual harasser and predator.

In contrast, Hill scored glowing praise from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi despite her unethical antics. In a statement, Pelosi — the leader of the Democratic Party — praised Hill for her “powerful commitment to her community.”

katie hill morgan desjardins Graham Kelly
Katie Hill pictured with her two young former staffers/lovers Morgan Desjardins and Graham Kelly. (screenshot/YouTube)

Katie Hill is now in the process of getting divorced. Hill was part of the left-wing “Resistance” in Congress that wanted to impeach and remove President Trump. Hasta la vista, baby.

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