Turkish Coal Miners Detained After March to Ankara Ministry Demanding Unpaid Wages

Police detained dozens of coal miners from Doruk Madencilik on Tuesday after they marched to Ankara's energy ministry demanding unpaid salaries and launched a hunger strike outside the building. The workers had started a march to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources on 11 April from Eskişehir's Mihalıççık district, led by the Independent Mine Workers' Union. The miners are demanding their salaries, which have not been paid for about five months, as well as severance and notice pay dating back to before and after the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) took over the mine. Police detained union leader Gökay Çakır, organising specialist Başaran Aksu and 31 miners on Tuesday morning when they attempted to reach the ministry, according to the union. "We are miners, we will not be deterred by detentions, we will continue where we left off," the Independent Mine Labour union said in a statement. "We came to Ankara in our shrouds, we are here." The workers, who were surrounded by law enforcement officers, continued their protest on Monday night by banging their hard hats on the ground and whistling. "Can anyone hear our voice?" the Independent Mine Workers' Union said in its post. After the detentions, 110 miners began a hunger strike outside the ministry on Tuesday until their demands are met. The mine was seized by the TMSF in 2016 on alleged ties to the so-called Gülenist organisation (FETÖ) and transferred to Yıldızlar SSS Holding in 2022. With this transfer, violations of workers' rights began to escalate, according to the union. Workers' severance and notice pay, overtime wages and salaries were not paid. Due to payment disruptions, the number of miners decreased from 1,200 to 250-300. Labour health and occupational safety measures at the mine are reportedly inadequate. Workers say the company is imposing old equipment on them for safety. What workers are demanding Workers marched to Ankara demanding the elimination of all accumulated rights losses, including their receivables dating back to before the TMSF takeover. The miners demand full payment of their wages, which have not been paid for months, as well as payment of their receivables arising from bonuses and annual leave. They also demand severance and notice pay for all employees who were dismissed before and after the TMSF takeover and whose compensation rights were not paid, regardless of whether they filed a lawsuit. Another demand of the miners is the end of unpaid leave, which they say has been imposed on current workers against their will. The workers demand the creation of a safe working environment in compliance with occupational health and safety rules, and the reinstatement of workers who were dismissed on the grounds of being union members and leading the struggle. The miners also demand the nationalisation of the mine to ensure job security and its sustainability. Yıldızlar SSS Holding, a family-owned company chaired by businessman Sebahattin Yıldız, operates in sectors such as mining, energy and ceramics. The holding includes subsidiaries such as Eti Gümüş, Nesko Maden and Söğütsen Seramik. The holding is seen as an important player in the national and international market, especially in the production of silver and industrial raw materials.