Fernas mine workers blocked by police barricade

The resistance of miners who were dismissed from Fernas Mining, a company owned by AKP MP Ferhat Nasıroğlu in the Soma district of Manisa, for joining the Independent Mine Workers Union (Bağımsız Maden İş) continues.

The workers, whose demands were not met, began a march from Soma to Ankara on September 25.

The workers, who were expected to be in front of the Parliament today, were prevented from entering Ankara by the police.

'THEY SAID THEY WOULD NEVER ALLOW US TO PASS'

Fernas worker Eyip Can, who was blocked from entering Ankara, stated, "They stopped us at the police checkpoint at the entrance to Ankara. They said they would never allow us to pass. We are determined; we will resist until the end and we will definitely pass through here. Even if it means death."

KEMAL KILIÇDAROĞLU WAS ALSO THERE

Former CHP Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu met the Fernas mine workers marching from Soma to Ankara at the city entrance and conveyed his support.

In his press statement, Kılıçdaroğlu said, "No one can accept the deprivation of workers' constitutional rights. However, in countries with one-man regimes, workers struggle to obtain their rights. The right to strike is in the Constitution. The right to collective bargaining is in the Constitution. The right to form a union is in the Constitution. Now, the workers want to form a union, they want to unionize and seek their rights. They set out from İzmir and are coming here barefoot... To seek their rights.

Defending your rights is the duty of every citizen. We believe in you, we trust you. I welcome you all to our Ankara, our capital city."

News Source: 12punto