Turkish miners have initiated another hunger strike in Ankara, demanding the payment of their overdue wages, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday. The miners, who traveled from Eskisehir, where they are employed at a lignite coal mine supplying a thermal power plant, have spent a week attempting to secure a meeting at the Ministry of Energy. 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 eventually lay down on the asphalt near their helmets, chanting the slogan, “Fight for bread.” They have stated they have not received wages for six months. The group arrived in Ankara on April 20, after walking approximately 180 kilometers over nine days to protest.
The union alleges that the company that acquired 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 without resolution. The miners’ plight has generated significant public concern in Türkiye, a nation where coal supplies about one-third of its electricity generation, according to the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, the cause has garnered public support due to the miners’ previous assistance in rescue efforts following the devastating 2023 earthquake in the region, as noted by AFP.
Topics: #miners #hunger #strike
