17 October, 2013Members of IndustriALL Global Union’s Turkish affiliates Maden-Is (Mineworkers’ Union) and Tes-Is (Energy, Gas and Water Workers’ Union) organized a long march from the Aegean region to the capital Ankara. The march was a demonstration against the privatization of lignite mines and thermic power stations.
In a series of joint actions over the past months, mine and energy workers in Yatagan, Yeniköy and Kemerköy thermal power plants have been campaigning against privatization of their workplaces.
In mid October, 200 miners and power plant workers launched their march in Yatagan, a mining county of the Mugla province. They walked a long route via Aydın, İzmir, and Afyon towards Ankara. In every city along the way the marchers stopped for local actions as well as press conferences. The events were supported by the local communities and trade unions.
When arriving in Ankara the marching mine and energy workers knocked on the door of the Turkish Parliament. Workers, together with leaders of Maden-Is and Tes-Is, publicly expressed their concerns and demands to the political representatives about the privatization. Both unions underlined their determination for continuing the campaign until future of the mines and power stations is secured.