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 workers, 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 at the Ministry of Energy for a week. On Monday, the eighth day of their hunger strike, the miners were reportedly blocked in a park and dispersed using tear gas.
The Independent Mining Workers Union stated on its X account that two members, including its President, Gokay Cakir, were arrested. The workers subsequently lay down on the asphalt near their helmets, displaying the slogan, “Fight for bread.” The union claims that the miners have not received payment for a period of six months. The group arrived in Ankara on April 20 after trekking 180 kilometers over nine days to voice their grievances.
According to the union, the company that acquired the mine and power plant in 2022 has either laid off or placed hundreds of employees on unpaid leave, leading to accumulated unpaid wages and compensation without resolution. The situation has generated significant public concern in Türkiye, a country where coal contributes approximately one-third of the electricity generated, as noted by the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, the miners’ cause has garnered public support due to their prior assistance in rescue efforts in the region impacted by the 2023 earthquake.
Topics: #miners #hunger #strike
