Turkish miners have initiated another hunger strike in Ankara to protest the non-payment of their wages, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday. The miners, who traveled from the nearby province of Eskisehir, where they work at a lignite coal mine supplying a thermal power plant, have been attempting to meet with officials at the Ministry of Energy for a week. On Monday, the eighth day of their hunger strike, the group was reportedly blocked in a park and dispersed using tear gas.
The Independent Mining Workers Union reported that two of its members, including President Gokay Cakir, were arrested. The workers ultimately resorted to lying on the asphalt next to their helmets, displaying the slogan, “Fight for bread.” They claim they have not received wages for a period of six months. The group reached Ankara on April 20 after completing an 180-kilometer walk over nine days to voice their protest.
The union stated that the company that assumed control of the mine and power plant in 2022 has either laid off or placed hundreds of employees on unpaid leave, resulting in accumulated unpaid wages and compensation that remain unresolved. The situation has generated significant public discontent in Türkiye, a country where coal provides approximately one-third of the nation’s electricity generation. Furthermore, the miners’ cause has garnered public support, particularly because the workers had provided assistance during rescue operations in the region severely affected by the 2023 earthquake.
Topics: #miners #hunger #strike
