Turkish miners have initiated a hunger strike in Ankara to protest the non-payment of their wages, according to reports from 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 secure a meeting with the Ministry of Energy for a week. On Monday, marking the eighth day of their protest, the workers were reportedly blocked in a park and dispersed using tear gas.
The Independent Mining Workers Union stated on its social media platform, X, that two of its members, including President Gokay Cakir, were arrested. The workers ultimately lay down on the asphalt near their helmets, displaying the slogan, “Fight for bread.” They have reportedly gone unpaid for a period of six months. The group arrived in Ankara on April 20 after completing an 180-kilometer walk over nine days to voice their grievances.
The union claims 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 without resolution. This situation has generated considerable public discontent in Turkey, a nation where coal contributes approximately one-third of its electricity generation, according to the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, the miners’ cause has garnered public sympathy due to their prior assistance with rescue efforts in the region impacted by the 2023 earthquake, as noted by AFP.
Topics: #miners #hunger #strike
It is concerning that the miners have resorted to a hunger strike due to unpaid wages.
What specific actions or negotiations are the miners demanding in exchange for ending the hunger strike?