Çayırhan workers dig deeper
Workers who oppose the sale of Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant and lignite businesses will lock themselves in the mine again and deeper in order to stop the tender. They will descend to 2,500 meters and begin the 'full closure' action.
This time, the workers will continue their protests 2,500 meters underground to make their voices heard by the government. The sale process of Çayırhan is ongoing. Bids can be submitted for Çayırhan until March 4, and the tender date will be determined later. The Chairman of the Turkish Mining-Labor Union, Nurettin Akçul, described the new protest to be held in the dark tunnels of the coal mine as “Self-torture.” Speaking to SÖZCÜ, Akçul said, “The underground is 250 meters deep vertically and 2.5 km below the entrance. Our workers will express their privatization rebellion by locking themselves in the deepest depths. This is a last resort. You are torturing yourself, locking yourself underground.”
TES-İŞ WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE
Stating that 750 Tes-İş Union members working at the power plant will also support the miners' action, President Akçul stated that Tes-İş and Maden-İş members will act together in the action until the privatization tender is cancelled. Akçul conveyed his request for the cancellation of the privatization to Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz the previous day (Tuesday).
LIGHT OF HOPE FROM YILMAZ
At the meeting, which was also attended by Privatization Administration (ÖİB) officials, Cevdet Yılmaz asked the workers' delegation if they had any alternative suggestions. Akçul said, “We did not offer any alternatives, because our only demand is to cancel the privatization. Mr. Yılmaz said that they would discuss and evaluate the issue with the relevant ministers. The approach was warm, we hope our hopes will not be in vain.”
For the tender to privatize Çayırhan power plant and mining operations and assets, Alagöz, Yıldızlar SSS Holding, Çelikler and Ciner companies have received files so far. It is stated that new offers may come until 18:00 on March 4. President Akçul stated that Yıldızlar SSS Holding, one of the companies receiving files, has not paid its own workers' salaries for 3 months and said, "Even companies that cannot pay their workers' salaries want the mine. From what we have heard, they are not paying salaries in order to save money for the tender. The situation is that bad."
SÖZCÜ
