Turkish Police Disperse Miner Protest Over Unpaid Wages
Miners undertake a 180-kilometer trek to demand payment of outstanding wages and redundancy from Doruk Mining.
On Monday, Turkish police used tear gas to break up a protest by approximately 110 lignite miners who had been on hunger strike for a week.
The miners' demonstration in Ankara demanded the payment of unpaid wages and redundancy pay from their employer, Doruk Mining.
The miners embarked on a nine-day, 180-kilometer (112-mile) trek from the central province of Eskisehir to the capital, Ankara, and subsequently initiated a shirtless sit-in outside the energy ministry.
Despite being arrested for around 14 hours last Tuesday, they persisted in their demands.
According to their union, Doruk Mining owes significant back wages to the workers.
Doruk Mining is a subsidiary of Yildizlar SSS, which took over the mine and its adjacent power plant in 2022, resulting in the layoff or furloughing of hundreds of employees.
The miners are notable for their efforts during the 2023 earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people; they assisted in rescuing trapped victims.
Several prominent figures, including leaders from the CHP party—the main opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—have supported the miners' cause.
The miners' demonstration in Ankara demanded the payment of unpaid wages and redundancy pay from their employer, Doruk Mining.
The miners embarked on a nine-day, 180-kilometer (112-mile) trek from the central province of Eskisehir to the capital, Ankara, and subsequently initiated a shirtless sit-in outside the energy ministry.
Despite being arrested for around 14 hours last Tuesday, they persisted in their demands.
According to their union, Doruk Mining owes significant back wages to the workers.
Doruk Mining is a subsidiary of Yildizlar SSS, which took over the mine and its adjacent power plant in 2022, resulting in the layoff or furloughing of hundreds of employees.
The miners are notable for their efforts during the 2023 earthquake that killed more than 53,000 people; they assisted in rescuing trapped victims.
Several prominent figures, including leaders from the CHP party—the main opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan—have supported the miners' cause.
