Miners walk to Ankara: Verdicts are reached but there is an absence of justice

Eda AKTAŞ
Dilek OMAKLILAR

The Soma and Ermenek miners' resistence, which started due to their wages and redundancy payments being withheld, is continuing. Ermenek workers are continuing their resistance in the Cenne mines whilst the Soma workers keep on walking to Ankara. Despite winning the legal battle, the Soma workers are still waiting to receive their rightful pay. The workers have declared that their walk to Ankara will continue until justice is done.

"CABINET MINISTER REFUSED MEETING REQUEST "

Yavuz Yıldıran, who is one of the representatives who travelled to Ankara to meet the general secretary of TKİ (Turkish Coal Operations Authority) said that they have visited the parliament first, followed by visits to political parties such as CHP, HDP, İYİ Party. However, they did not meet up with any representative of the ruling AKP and its supporter MHP party, and their request for a meeting with the Energy Commissioner was refused and they had to meet up with TKI instead.

The workers stated that the “General Secretary of TKİ is trying to buy time. However, our requests are very clear, we want our pay. We fail to understand how a government sector can be managed so poorly by failing to take responsibility. The resolution should be headed by TKİ and the Energy Commissioner. There is an issue which is preventing a resolution being offered on our pays. We are working very hard to reach a resolution and solve the issue over our pay. I hope our voices are heard”.

Yıldıran also expressed his dissatisfaction with the government's failure to act. Pointing to the cemetery where his co-mine workers are buried, and said “This is the resting place for our martyrs, they are trying to imprison us here whilst alive. We are going to try every means to make our voices heard”.

"OUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN WITHELD DUE TO A CHANGE IN COMPANY NAME"

İdris Sarıkaya, who lost his legs during an explosion whilst working for Uyar Madencilik in 2007 said that his co-worker Ali Kandemir also lost his eyes during the same explosion. Sarikaya said that he had to endure 30 months of treatment and was finally made a pensioner due to his disability.

Furthermore, in 2007-2008 the company has promised to financially rectify their losses. However, they failed to keep this promise: “The last time we requested payments we were told to seek our rights legally. When persisted, we were told by the company, ‘You did not die. You are a burden on our backs. We will pay whatever is decided by the courts’. However, despite winning the legal battle in 2011 we are yet to receive the compensation due by the company. We have found out that the company has changed its name 5 times and has transferred ownership. Hence, we could not claim our compensation.” [...]

"WE FACE FINANCIAL WORRIES EACH MONTH"

Ali Kandemir, who lost his eyes during the explosion expressed his frustration with the lack of resolution by saying that “They have confined me to walking sticks for the rest of my life but the company did not pay any price. We have won our legal battle and lost my eyes. However, we are still begging for justice”. He also added that they are continuously left worried about how to meet their basic living costs whilst the bosses responsible for the explosion are living a life of luxury. “Whilst they are going around with millions in their pockets we are unable to give our children 1 lira. Is this fair? I have lost my eyes but my co-workers have lost more. Everyone had a different issue. We will continue to seek justice until our needs are met. We request that everyone is reimbursed for their losses”.

"THE PANDEMIC WAS USED AS AN EXCUSE TO STOP OUR WALK"

Başaran Aksu, an independent advisor for the mine workers has added that "the pandemic was used as an excuse to stop our walk for justice. However, we have been advising the government that the workplaces are not complying with the rules surrounding the pandemic and that immediate action needs to be taken. But the officials have failed to respond to our calls. The pandemic is not seen as an issue whilst the workers are working but it is a massive problem when they try to seek their rights". [...]

"OUR STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE"

Despite the unlawful acts of injustices shown by Uyar Madencilik towards its workers, its director Azim Uyar has just been given two further licences by the government to grow his operations. The bosses are not reimbursing the workers for their losses but are using the profits from coal to grow their businesses. Over the past 8 years 748 workers have failed to receive their compensations. [...]