Miners Detained for Third Time Outside Ministry: Workers Falling Ill!

Miners employed by Doruk Madencilik and Elazığ Eti Gümüş, companies under Yıldızlar Holding, have escalated their protest, gathering at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in Ankara. They are demanding months of unpaid wages and severance pay, having already protested at the holding company's premises and been detained twice.

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We will pay the friends' severance pay today. We will also pay their wage receivables. They took it to court, we will pay that next week. We will pay Elazığ too.

The miners, members of the Independent Miners' Union (Bağımsız Maden-İş), have been demonstrating for four days in front of the ministry. Their persistence comes after previous promises from the holding's chairman, Sabahattin Yıldız, who stated that all outstanding payments, including severance and wages, would be settled promptly. However, the workers remain wary, citing a history of similar unfulfilled commitments.

During negotiations, holding officials indicated that some workers had received small partial payments, while calculations for the remaining amounts were ongoing. Başaran Aksu, an organizing expert for the Independent Miners' Union, confirmed that Doruk Madencilik workers had not yet received any payments. Aksu expressed frustration with the ministry's lack of response to their requests for dialogue, questioning the authorities' stance and vowing to continue their struggle.

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Who are you, who brought you here? Will we bow down, will we beg for our rights?

The situation took a concerning turn when one miner, reportedly suffering from high blood pressure, collapsed under the strain of the prolonged protest in the sun and was taken to the hospital. Despite this, the miners declared their intention to continue their vigil at the ministry until their demands are met. They also announced plans to participate in a rally organized by the ruling AKP party the following day, though police presence intensified at the ministry site.

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The Ministry must take initiative. We will not leave here.