Turkey miners: over 80 detained at ministry, union says

An independent miners' union said more than 80 miners demanding unpaid wages were detained outside the gates of Turkey's Energy Ministry on Tuesday.

The union had called on workers from two coal and silver mines in central and eastern Turkey to protest, asking ministry officials to find a solution. Earlier, it posted the slogan: “No bread, no peace.”

About 100 miners from one of the mines held a nine-day hunger strike in Ankara in April to demand salary payments from their employer. The union said about 110 workers were arrested then and held for 14 hours after calling for a meeting with energy ministry officials.

That strike ended after an agreement with the employer was announced. The miners say they have received back pay and/or severance, but are still seeking compensation for forced leave that lasted months.

Turkey's Energy Ministry did not immediately respond when contacted by AFP.