Turkish miners initiated a hunger strike in Ankara on Monday to protest overdue wages, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). 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 secure a meeting with the Ministry of Energy for a week. On the eighth day of the hunger strike, the workers were reportedly blocked in a park and dispersed using tear gas.
The Independent Mining Workers Union reported that two members, including President Gokay Cakir, were arrested. The workers subsequently lay down on the pavement, holding signs bearing the slogan, “Fight for bread.” The group stated that they have not received payment for a period of six months. The miners traveled to Ankara on April 20, covering 180 kilometers over nine days to voice their protest.
According to the union, the company that assumed control of the mine and power plant in 2022 has reportedly laid off or placed hundreds of employees on unpaid leave, resulting in accumulated, unresolved wage arrears and compensation issues. The situation has generated significant public concern in Turkey, a country where coal contributes approximately one-third of the nation’s electricity generation, according to the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, the miners’ cause has garnered public sympathy, partly due to their assistance in rescue operations in the region severely impacted by the 2023 earthquake.
Topics: #miners #hunger #strike
Turkish miners commenced a hunger strike in Ankara on Monday to protest the non-payment of wages, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The miners, who traveled from their workplace in the nearby p
What specific wages or payments are the miners demanding in the agreement?