Severance Paid to About 400 Mine Workers Protesting in Ankara

About 400 mine workers who have been protesting in Ankara for nearly 40 days have received their severance payments, the Central Anatolia branch of the Turkey Maden-İş union said.

Branch chairman Talih Kocabıyık said another substantial payment had been made to the workers. “As of today, the principal severance payments of approximately 400 workers have been paid,” he said.

Kocabıyık estimated that about 80% of the workers’ grievances had been addressed. He thanked TÜRK-İŞ chairman Ergün Atalay, Turkey Maden-İş chairman Nurettin Akçul, the relevant ministries, security forces and members of the press for contributing to the process.

He also said company owner Sebahattin Yıldız had met with the workers. The possible rehiring of employees who had lost their jobs came up during that meeting.

The union plans to raise additional issues in a meeting with the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry next week. Those issues include claims arising from collective labor agreements and severance payments owed to employees who retired during the period when the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund, known as TMSF, was involved.

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Another payment was made today, and it was a substantial amount. As of today, the principal severance payments of approximately 400 workers have been paid.