Akkuyu nuclear power plant contractor dismisses 500 workers protesting low wages

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Some 500 workers working at the construction of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin, southern Türkiye, have been dismissed after going on a strike.

The workers of the Aydıner Construction company, a contractor for the project, went on strike on August 23, citing lower wage increased compared to the other contractors.

While the other firms had raised the wages by 35 percent, the Aydıner company had given a rise of 22 percent to their personnel, according to the workers.

The company revoked the access cards of the workers, who are now continuing their protests in front of the construction site, according to the Mezopotamya Agency (MA).

İNSANCA YAŞAMAK İSTİYORUZ!
Mersin Akkuyu Nükleer santral şantiyesinde Aydıner inşaat firmasında çalışan işçiler yeterli oranda zam yapılmadığı için iş bırakma eylemi gerçekleştiriyor. pic.twitter.com/Tj1Ztqf9ed

— DİSK/ Dev Yapı-İş (@devyapi_is) August 23, 2022

On July 26, Rosatom, Russia's state-run nuclear energy corporation, which is building the plant, terminated the contract for engineering, procurement and construction with the T2IC company, which was formed by the Russia-based Titan 2 and the Türkiye-based IC İçtaş.

While Rosatom cited the company's failure to ensure occupational safety for the termination, IC İçtaş claimed the purpose of the decision was to remove Türkiye-based companies from the management of the project.

While some of the İçtaş workers switched to the Enerji Construction Ltd., which replaced the T2IC company, some were put on a paid leave.

The Akkuyu Nuclear Inc. had announced after the termination of IC İçtaşs contract that the salaries of the T2IC workers would be increased by 35 percent. (TY/VK)