The Independent Mining Workers' Union (Independent Maden-İş) made a press statement on the problems experienced by mine workers in Soma. A banner saying “Working is cruelty, retirement is death. We want a humane living wage in the mines” was unfurled. Çetin Erkalkan, Independent Mining-Work Organization Specialist, read the statement.

Stating that Soma Uyar Madencilik still has not been paid the compensation for work accidents, Eralkan said: "We won’t stop protesting until everyone has his/her rights guaranteed.Mining is one of the heaviest professions in the world. The miner has a shorter life expectation than other workers. Yet, despite knowing this, he is a person willing to live less to ensure the future of his children. Because of this fact, miners are the least expensive group for the state when it comes to retirement."

Noting that the miners who worked and retired were struggling with various diseases, Erkalkan said that the pensions paid to miners are very low and added that a miner, who received a monthly salary of 8,500 TL with the new increase, received 3,000 TL after his retirement. “There is no such gap between the salary and pension in any other job. We are heading towards the next election. Political parties that will meet the miners in Soma, Kınık, Kırkağaç and Savaştepe must first commit to what they will do about this issue. The yellow unions, which serve the bosses and do not speak out against the conditions in which the miners live, should know that their end is near, too.”

Call to attend the march planned for next month

Eralkan said that miners could no longer tolerate this situation. Pointing out that legal arrangements should be made to allow the miners out of this situation, Erkalkan said: “We will widen our struggle with a march on 13 March. We will carry out a petition against the low pension wages of miners in Soma, Kırkağaç, Savaştepe, Kınık and Akhisar. We call on all the public and our people to support and unite against these great injustices.”