Maden-İş members demand their dues: Police barricade stops workers marching to Ankara
Workers employed at Doruk Madencilik, affiliated with Yıldızlar SSS Holding, began a march to Ankara over unpaid wages and union rights. The workers were blocked by the police. The miners working under Doruk Madencilik, part of Yıldızlar SSS Holding, joined Maden-İş in marching to Ankara due to months of unpaid wages and denied union rights.
The workers stated that the payment promises made by Yıldızlar Holding were not kept and that the company said, "We cannot make payments at this time." They held a press statement at Beypazarı Market Square. As they headed toward Ankara, the workers encountered a police barricade. They continue to wait, demanding the barricade be removed and the march to proceed.
In April, over 100 workers had marched with the Independent Maden-İş Union demanding unpaid wages, severance pay, and additional benefits. Despite police blockades and heavy interventions, they continued their resistance until the ministers of Labor, Energy, and Interior guaranteed payments from Yıldızlar Holding, which ended the protest.
However, when the Holding again failed to make payments, the workers, together with the Independent Maden-İş Union, resumed action. Despite all obstacles, they reached Ankara and secured payment of their dues through their organized protest. The press statement on behalf of the workers, members of the Turkey Mine Workers' Union (Maden-İş) who decided to march to Ankara due to unpaid rights, was made by General President Nurettin Akçul.
Addressing the crowd gathered from across Turkey to support the workers' struggle, Akçul congratulated the approximately 110 miners who had previously started the march to Ankara. He said, "While they were fighting on the roads, we were pursuing negotiations with the ministry. We did everything we could to clear their path."
Akçul noted that they are in talks with state and company officials but have not achieved results from these discussions. 'Our struggle is the struggle of 1,000 workers'
After securing the rights of 120 workers who took action with the Independent Maden-İş Union, Akçul said they are now advocating for nearly 900 workers' unpaid dues at the facility. He also emphasized defending the unpaid rights of workers at the thermal power plant who are not unionized. Akçul stated, "Currently, we represent over 900 people.
More than 300 colleagues who resigned using their right to justified termination are owed severance pay. These workers believed in justice but have yet to see any compensation. Therefore, our issue is not just about 100 people; it is the first step in a struggle involving 1,000 people. We do not want our state and ministries to remain passive in the face of this injustice and unfairness," he said.
