Turkish police detained dozens of coal miners on Tuesday after they marched to the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in Ankara to demand unpaid salaries. The workers, employed by Doruk Madencilik, had begun their protest on 11 April from the Mihalıççık district of Eskişehir, led by the Independent Mine Workers' Union.
The miners are seeking wages that have not been paid for approximately 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. Union leader Gökay Çakır, organising specialist Başaran Aksu, and 31 other miners were detained on Tuesday morning as 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, surrounded by law enforcement, continued their protest on Monday night by banging their hard hats on the ground and whistling. “Can anyone hear our voice?” the union asked in a social media post.
After the detentions, 110 miners began a hunger strike outside the ministry on Tuesday, vowing to continue until their demands are met. The mine was seized by the TMSF in 2016 over alleged ties to the Gülen movement, which the Turkish government designates as a terrorist organisation, and was transferred to Yıldızlar SSS Holding in 2022.
Escalating Labour Violations
Since the transfer, violations of workers' rights have escalated, according to the union. Workers' severance and notice pay, overtime wages, and salaries have not been paid. Due to payment disruptions, the workforce has shrunk from 1,200 to between 250 and 300 miners. Labour health and occupational safety measures at the mine are reportedly inadequate, with workers claiming the company is imposing old equipment on them for safety.
The miners are demanding the elimination of all accumulated rights losses, including receivables dating back to before the TMSF takeover. They seek full payment of unpaid wages, bonuses, and annual leave entitlements, as well as severance and notice pay for all employees dismissed before and after the takeover whose compensation rights were not paid, regardless of whether they filed a lawsuit.
Another demand is an end to unpaid leave, which workers say has been imposed on current employees against their will. They also call for a safe working environment in compliance with occupational health and safety rules, the reinstatement of workers dismissed for union membership or leading the struggle, and the nationalisation of the mine to ensure job security and sustainability.
Yıldızlar SSS Holding, a family-owned company chaired by businessman Sebahattin Yıldız, operates in mining, energy, and ceramics, with subsidiaries including Eti Gümüş, Nesko Maden, and Söğütsen Seramik. The incident highlights broader labour rights challenges in Turkey, where mining has a history of deadly accidents and poor working conditions.
This protest comes amid ongoing scrutiny of labour practices in Turkey, with similar issues emerging in other sectors. For context, the European Union has repeatedly called for improved worker protections in Turkey, though progress remains slow. The miners' plight also echoes concerns about corporate accountability and state intervention in the economy, as seen in other regions.
