Over a hundred workers of Doruk Mining company marched from Eskişehir to Ankara from the 13th to the 20th of April. The miners went on a hunger strike in Ankara in protest at the fact that they have not received their wages for months, that their overtime and past compensations have not been paid, and that they are frequently placed on unpaid leave.
The miners were taken into custody on April 20 as they demanded their wages and their rights. They were released from custody a day later. The Independent Mine Workers Union says that they will continue the protest and not go anywhere without securing the workers’ rights and that they will.
DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları, together with a delegation consisting of members of parliament and executives from her party’s Ankara Provincial Organization, visited the Doruk Mining workers in Ankara on Thursday.
Speaking here, Independent Mine Workers Union General President Gökay Çakır said, “These workers are on hunger strike, regardless of rain and winter. I appeal to the entire public and all political parties in the country; this issue must be resolved as soon as possible. Their children came here and joined the protest, demanding that their fathers are granted their money and rights. This situation is a disgrace for those governing the Republic of Turkey. This is how I see it; I am also a child of a villager. Yes, I worked in a mine for 22 years. But it should not be like this. We will not leave Ankara, we will not go anywhere without securing the workers’ rights. This path may lead to prison. It may lead to death. But we will not let these workers’ children become victims.”
Speaking after, Tülay Hatimoğulları stated that the workers have been resisting for days and said: “If Turkey and the world are warming, if the energy problem can be resolved, it is thanks to the workers. The authorities should have actually welcomed the miners, supported their resistance and come up with a solution to their problems. They instead detained the workers by force through law enforcement units. This is unacceptable. Workers are not suspects. Treating workers who say ‘I am hungry, I am struggling for my bread. I want my wages’ as criminals and detaining them is the very definition of injustice.”
Hatimoğulları continued: “Through detentions, the government has shown that they are not on the side of workers, laborers, or the poor. The government stands with capital groups, with a particular capital group, and protects their interests. Today, these children should be joining the April 23 (Children’s Day) celebrations, but instead they are here with their mothers and fathers. Together with their families, they are part of this resistance. For the right to bread, for their future, for their right to education and nutrition, these children are here today.”
Addressing the miners, the DEM Party co-chair said: “Our fellow MPs are here regularly to hear whatever issue you want to be voiced in parliament. They have been by your side in Ankara since the beginning of your action, and you can convey your concerns to them as well. We stand with the resistance of Doruk Mining workers. We stand with their legitimate demands. In order for their demands to be met and for this resistance to end in victory, we will continue our solidarity with you and our joint struggle until the end.”
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