Turkish miners' hunger strike spreads across three provinces

In Edirne, workers at Özşen Madencilik have entered their 25th day of an underground hunger strike. Locked inside the mine, they say internet and phone lines have been cut by the company and they are demanding unpaid wages, overtime and compensation, warning “either we die or we get our rights”. The Independent Mine‑Work Union reports that communication with the miners has been blocked.

At the same time, miners in two other provinces have staged coordinated protests. In Beypazarı, Ankara province, employees of Yıldızlar SSS Holding – Doruk Mining walked toward Ankara, faced police blockades and have still not received promised payments after a May 15 deadline. In Şebinkarahisar, Giresun province, about 200 workers of Nesko Mine (also under Yıldızlar SSS Holding) began a strike on 12 June over salaries unpaid since March, describing severe financial hardship and alleging threats of dismissal. The actions include surface baricades and underground hunger strikes, with unions calling on authorities to intervene.