Turkish miners initiated another hunger strike in Ankara on Monday to protest the delay in receiving their wages, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). The group of miners traveled from Eskisehir, where they are employed at a lignite coal mine supplying a thermal power plant. On the eighth day of their hunger strike, efforts to meet with the Ministry of Energy were reportedly blocked, and the protestors were dispersed using tear gas.
The Independent Mining Workers Union stated that two of its members, including President Gokay Cakir, were arrested during the demonstration. The workers ultimately resorted to lying on the pavement near their helmets, carrying the slogan, “Fight for bread.” The core issue remains the fact that the miners have not received payment for a period of six months. The group arrived in Ankara on April 20, having walked a distance of 180 kilometers over nine days to voice their protest.
The union claims that the company which assumed control of the mine and power plant in 2022 has either laid off or placed hundreds of employees on unpaid leave, leading to a buildup of unpaid wages and compensation. This ongoing situation has generated significant public discontent in Turkey, a nation where coal supplies approximately one-third of its electricity production, as reported by the Ministry of Energy. Furthermore, the cause of the miners has garnered public support due to the workers’ prior assistance in rescue operations in the region severely impacted by the 2023 earthquake.
Topics: #miners #hunger #strike
It is deeply concerning that workers have to resort to a hunger strike simply to receive wages they are owed.
What specific wage payments are the miners protesting, and what is the expected timeline for resolution?