Özşen Madencilik workers end 27‑day hunger strike after agreement in Edirne

After a 27‑day underground hunger strike, workers at Özşen Madencilik in Uzunköprü, Edirne, reached an agreement with the employer mediated by the provincial governor. The protocol guarantees payment of back‑wages, overtime and compensation, counts the strike days as insured employment, and establishes a joint monitoring committee of union, İŞKUR, and government representatives to oversee payments. Production is slated to resume in 4‑12‑hour shifts once the agreed conditions are met.

The strike, launched over unpaid wages, overtime and recent dismissals, drew national attention and several political reactions. Union statements quoted: “Yeraltında açlık grevinde olan madenci arkadaşlarımızı sağ salim aldık. Bu zafer, ekmeğine, onuruna ve geleceğine sahip çıkan madencilerin zaferidir.” Amid the protest, reports emerged of gunfire directed at miners and their families, prompting condemnations from parties such as the DEM and the Turkey Workers’ Party.

The settlement marks a rare victory for organized labor in Turkey’s mining sector, illustrating the impact of sustained collective action and the role of state mediation in resolving industrial disputes.