Mine workers in Merzifon and Suluova were laid off, earthquake aid workers are now worried about bread
Quick Look
- Yeni Anadolu Madencilik terminated the contracts of workers at two mining sites in Merzifon and Suluova for technical and financial reasons.
- Miners who carried out search and rescue activities during the February 6 earthquakes express with concern that they will no longer be able to feed their families because they have been laid off.
- While it is stated that there are 16 million tons of reserves in the region, workers and union officials demand the reopening of mining facilities.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The mining fields in Merzifon and Suluova districts have been operating for more than 75 years and the basic income of many families in the region is provided by these enterprises. During the February 6, 2023 earthquakes, miners in the region participated in search and rescue activities.
The contracts of workers who have been working for years in two mining areas in Merzifon and Suluova districts, where production has stopped, were terminated by Yeni Anadolu Madencilik due to technical and financial reasons.
Miners who went to the cities hit by the earthquake on February 6 and saved lives began to think deeply about the future.
"THERE ARE MORE THAN 16 MILLION TONS OF RESERVES"
Stating that there are more than 16 million tons of reserves in the region, Mining Labor Union Suluova Branch President Cemil Güven said, "This is a 75-year-old business. It must be operated, people must eat bread. No one can explain the purpose of closing this place."
"WE TRIED TO GIVE HOPE TO THE EARTHQUAKE SUFFERERS ON FEBRUARY 6"
Miner Hüseyin Tonkır, who explained that he participated in search and rescue activities for 25 days in the region where they were sent immediately after the earthquakes on February 6, 2023, where thousands of people lost their lives, said, "We tried to be a hope for the earthquake victims with our friends. Now we want our citizens and our state to be with us. We need hope. Because I cannot say 'I am unemployed' to my school-going child because of my shame."
"LET OUR BREAD BOAT NOT BE CLOSED"
Pointing out that many families in the region make a living from the earnings of the mines, Emrah Korkmazlı said, "We do not want our bread and butter to be closed. The miners in this country were with their people on February 6. Now it is the miners' earthquake. We want our people to be with us."
Underlining that underground resources should be turned into production, Türk-İş Amasya Provincial Chairman Ayturan Küpçü said, "294 of our friends, who earn their bread from stone and coal, became unemployed today. Their children are going to school. We feel sad when we see them in this situation."
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Miners and unions will take legal action against their dismissals
Likely · Within weeks
Public pressure will increase to restart mining activities in the region
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What is the amount of workers' compensation payable?
- Who will audit the legal compliance of Yeni Anadolu Madencilik's termination decision?
- What conditions must be met for the reopening of mining sites?
- What support does the state plan for unemployed miners?
