Mineworkers march to union in Soma

2014-05-26 14:33:08

MANİSA (DİHA) - A group of around 300 protesters gathered in front of the local Ege Maden-İş building on May 26, demanding resignation of the union officials for failing to secure the rights of the workers both before and after the accident.

A group of miners called for the resignation of officials from Turkey’s mining union, Maden-İş, in Soma, where 301 miners were killed in the country’s largest-ever mining accident on May 13. The miners revoked their membership from Maden-İş, which they accuse of collaborating with the mining company rather than protecting the security and rights of workers. A scuffle took place during the protest in front of the Soma union building, in which one police officer was lightly injured. Riot police were then dispatched to the scene.

Tamer Küçükgencay, the head of Maden İş union’s Agean region’s branch has declared his resignation after the protests. However, the workers continue to their slogans and protests calling for all board members of the union to resign. “I resign from the union’s head position. I could resign on the very first day [of the accident that took place on May 13]. But I didn’t because I wanted to prevent people think that I am running away in fear. But now I am resigning,” Küçükgencay told the group of protesters on May 26.

(nt)