Soma Miners on Wage Protest

Miners affiliated with three different mining zones under Soma Mining Co. have launched a protest, saying that the company didn’t pay their wages. 

Following the mine disaster that took at least 301 miners’ lives on May 13, the company workers received their wage on May 15. However, as of today, they have yet to receive their next wages due by June 15. 

Reacting against their pending payments, Soma Mining Co workers started a sit-in protest outside the Governor’s Office in Soma district. 

“The government told us that we would be paid both by them and the company. Forget about double salaries, we were unable to receive this month’s paychecks. Our sit-ins and protests will resume,” one of the protestor workers told bianet. 

Previously, the mining site in Enyez under Soma Mining Co. was sealed by the authorities after the mining disaster that claimed at least 301 lives. Later on, authorities enlarged their investigation on Soma Mining Co. affiliated mines, closing down two others in Işıklar and Atabacası locations. 

The aforementioned mines are expected to stay sealed for a term of 3 months. 

On the other hand, Soma Mining Co. released a press statement, saying that their wage due date was June 20 and their efforts [to pay salaries] would resume until then. (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.