18 more mineworkers were trapped underground in Karaman province of Turkey when the area was flooded with water.
Reports say that this was the third time the mine was flooded indicating the lack of safety measures in the industry.
The same lack of safety measures that caused the killed more than 300 workers in Soma on May earlier this year.
While 20 miners managed to escape, the others remain trapped with little chances of survival despite the efforts of the emergency forces.
The World Federation of Trade Union reaffirms its solidarity with the working class of Turkey and denounced the Government of Turkey and the private mineowners for sacrificing the lives of the workers for the profits.
As stated in the declaration of the International Solidarity Conference organized by WFTU and Nakliyat-Is in Istanbul, Turkey: “This is a clear result of the private use of the mine, the profit-driven exploitation of the mineral wealth, the intensification of labour, the cutbacks in maintenance and modern equipment and the subcontracting of labour. This accident was an expected outcome of the capitalist mode of production. We support the struggle of the militant trade union movement in Turkey against the privatization of the mines and for the mineral wealth to be used for the satisfaction of the people’s needs.”
We demand from the Government of Turkey to implement now modern, adequate and effective safety measures in all mines of Turkey.
THE SECRETARIAT
