[REVISION HISTORY]

Imbat Madencilik labor protest in Soma

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2026-10-31 16:22 UTC → 2026-11-02 22:56 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Miners employed by Imbat Madencilik in the Soma district of Manisa began a march to Ankara to protest irregular and partial wage payments and other entitlements. The Aegean Region Branch of the Turkish Mine Workers' Union led the protest, stating that financial instability prevents workers from focusing on workplace safety. By the fifth day of the march, gendarmerie forces reportedly blocked approximately 70 miners at Kırkağaç Çamlığı, preventing them from continuing their journey. During the demonstration, some workers climbed trees to call for government attention, describing the march as a fight for their livelihoods. Protesters expressed significant financial hardship, with some reporting they have not received salaries from previous months. Imbat Madencilik management responded by claiming the company is facing a severe financial crisis. The company attributed the lack of funds to 1.475 billion TL in unpaid coal debts from Konya Şeker (TORKU), which operates the Soma B Thermal Power Plant. Management stated that company assets are mortgaged and no remaining financial resources exist to pay wages regularly. In a separate development, the Independent Mine Workers Union announced that employees have not received full salaries or contract benefits for two years. Union President Gökay Çakır stated the economic situation has become unsustainable for families. Çakır held both the company and Türkiye Kömür İşletmeleri (TKİ) responsible for the unpaid dues, asserting that TKİ is obligated to make the payments. Workers planned to gather at TKİ locations to demand their rights.

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