Mineworkers in Ankara to protest for receivables not paid for 10 years

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Mineworkers from Soma, Manisa, whose compensation has not been paid for 10 years, have started protests again after promises were not kept.

About 40 workers and their families gathered in front of the Bağımsız Maden-İş union's office in Manisa and took off for Ankara, the capital.

As the workers intended to protest in front of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, police stopped their bus at the entrance of Ankara.

Not allowed to enter the city, workers got off the bus and started the protest. Later, main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Manisa Deputy Özgür Özel joined the workers.

Başaran Aksu, an organization specialist at the union, said that the security directorate offered the workers to pick a delegation to visit the ministry. "Previously, our delegations came here 15 times. The decision we have made is that we will go together," he said.

"Miners are angry. We won't leave Ankara. If the result of the meeting is negative, the delegation will start a sit-in protest in front of the ministry."

İdris Sarıkaya, one of the workers, said, "We have condescended to visit you many times. How many times should we come again? You don't keep your promises. We don't trust your promises anymore."

MP Özel said the authorities have failed the keep the promises they have made since the 2013 Soma mine explosion, where 301 workers lost their lives.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally promised the workers that they would be paid, Özel recalled.

"The boss operates various mines across Turkey but doesn't pay these 880 people their dues," he added. (HA/VK)