10.02.2025 20:32
The miners fighting against the privatization of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant and mining sites have started a march from Beypazarı towards Ankara. The workers are demanding the halt of the privatization.
The miners fighting against the privatization of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant and mining areas have started their march from Beypazarı to Ankara.
The miners, who began their protests against the privatization of the Çayırhan Thermal Power Plant located in Nallıhan, Ankara, resumed their actions after pausing them following the postponement of the privatization.
THEY HAVE STARTED MARCHING TO ANKARA
Nurettin Akçul, the General President of the Turkish Mine Workers' Union, representing the workers who started the march from Beypazarı to Ankara, stated in a press release before the march that they have taken to the roads again due to the lack of a negotiation process.
Recalling that they halted the march they started in November due to the postponement of the privatization to March, Akçul said, "Our struggle will continue. We hoped that our State would take a stance in favor of its workers and abandon this practice that would harm the workers and the region. Because we were filled with the belief that our State protects its workers, cares for the laborers, does not create victims from the rightful, and does not do anything against the local people. We had said, 'There is a mistake here, and a wrong calculation will return from Baghdad.'"
"THE CHANGES MADE DID NOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION"
Akçul stated that some changes were made in the privatization tender, but these did not produce a solution. "As far as we have heard, two or three items have been changed in the tender. In these items, which were announced as a good news, the number of workers is stated as 2,050, and a so-called guarantee has been given. However, no regulations have been made regarding acquired rights. They have extended the 4-month period they set for vacating the lodgings to 12 months, as a favor to the residents. What kind of improvement is this, what kind of regulation?" he expressed.
Stating that they have restarted their march against asset sales and privatization, Akçul said, "The common decision made with my friends is to march to the Privatization Administration and make our voices heard once again from there. We no longer want postponement and stalling; we want a complete abandonment of this decision. Let's all together protect this national wealth."
"WE EXPECT A STATEMENT FROM THE AUTHORITIES"
The workers, who stated that they will continue their struggle against privatization, expressed that they expect a constructive statement from the authorities.