Miners achieve victory: 'Licenses reduced to 180'

The Ministry of Interior announced that the meeting between the Doruk Mining workers, who were continuing their protests in Ankara with the demand that their receivables be paid, and the employer concluded with an agreement between the parties.

In a statement made on the Ministry of Interior's official X account after the meeting, the following words were included: "The meeting at the Ministry of Interior concluded with an agreement between the parties. The workers announced that they have ended the protest by reaching an agreement with the employer."

'THESE ARE NOT THINGS I WILL BELIEVE WITHOUT SEEING'

While Independent Mining Workers' Union President Gökay Çakır stated, "All of the workers' rights will be deposited into their accounts within 15 days," the licenses of Yıldız SSS Holding boss Sebahattin Yıldız became a subject of debate once again. Speaking to 12punto about the licenses in question recently, Mert Batur had said, "We believe that Yıldızlar SSS Holding holds nearly 3,500 mining licenses across Turkey. Most of these are not active; only about 30-35 are likely active."

Speaking to 12punto again after the resistance was won, Batur said, "Our delegation had a meeting with the Ministry of Energy yesterday. We told the Ministry of Energy that these individuals are people protected by politicians, that this is evident from the issuance of 3,500 licenses, that this is what people think, and that there is no other option in this picture. The General Manager of the General Directorate of Mining and Petroleum Affairs (MAPEG) said; 'Yes, they had that many licenses, but we reduced them due to these processes, we reduced them down to 180.' Additionally, he said, 'We will zero them out if necessary, it's not a problem.'"

On the other hand, Batur said, "Mining is a place that needs to be operated very seriously, especially underground mining. Mining cannot be done in this form, it cannot be done. That is, it causes workers to lose their lives. I think we explained this well with the resistance. Whether this person can continue to work with these licenses, or whether new licenses will be given or they will be canceled... These are not things I will believe without confirming or seeing, no matter what. But I can clearly say that he cannot do mining in this form."

180 LICENSES WILL ALSO BE REDUCED

Stating that the Deputy Minister of Energy expressed this directly while making statements to 12punto regarding the subject, Independent Mining Workers' Union Organizing Specialist Başaran Aksu said, "Our struggle was not against the licenses anyway, but we also expressed the licenses. The licenses were reduced to 180.

The Deputy Minister stated that an investigation is ongoing regarding these 180 as well, and that they will reduce those too." On the other hand, Aksu said, "The problems regarding all the rights of the workers have been solved.

A very important part of the salaries was deposited today, the remaining part is technical... That is, the company and the union delegation need to examine it name by name, calculate it. The accounts will be compared, and as soon as they are compared, they will be deposited into the workers' accounts.

When a problem or snag arises, it will be checked 15 days later with three Deputy Ministers; from the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Labor. Everything will be liquidated within 15 days. That is, the state will create a mechanism and a protocol will be established with the company. So, there is no question mark in the minds of the worker friends."

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News Source: 12punto