Finally, the Higher Board of Privatization (HBP),a government related agency, approved the privatization of the Yatagan Thermal Power Plant. On the other hand, the workers of the Plant and the coal mine, decided not to let in any new possible owners into the facility. The first action of the workers was to set up a barricade in front of the GELI (Southern Aegean Coal Mine).
The workers who have been fighting against the privatization of Yatagan, Yenikoy and Kemerkoy Thermal Power Plants and coal mines for months in Mugla, decided not to let the new owners enter the Plant, after sale of the power plant has been approved. Following the privatization approval by the Higher Board of Privatization (HBP) led by the TayyipErdogan, Chairmen of Maden-Is and TES-Is (related trade unions) met and determined a new road map to fight against the privatization, The trade unions organized meetings of the basis with the work place committees. After two days of meetings of plant and coal mine workers, the decision was taken to continue the fight against the privatization. As a first action,a barricade at the entrance of the coal mine facilities consisting of the working machines was erected on the 20th of August, 2014. Additionally, the number of the watchers in front of the plants and coal mines was increased.
‘Not our last words’
The mine and plant workers at the front of the GELI (Southern Aegean Coal Mine) constructed a barricade in front of the Management by closing the road with four working machines and large wheels a few days ago. The workers declared by that action their will and took the gate under their own control. During the action, Turkish flags with Atatürk on them were lifted on working machines as well as a banner saying “No to privatization”.
Süleyman Girgin, Chair of the Maden-Is Yatagan Branch read the press statement on behalf of the Maden-Is and TES-Is Yatagan branches.
Girgin started his words by saying that they fight for the rights, for justice and democracy.He added “some people may think it is over. However, we have not said our final words as energy and mine workers yet. A government cannot say ‘I have the majority in the Assembly, I am the power, I do whatever I want’. Whether in favour or against the government, people have rights on these facilities, even our unborn babies have rights on these facilities. The plants and coal mines are not the property of the government. They are the nation’s property given to the government.”
Oath to resist and taking guard
Girgin mentioned that the hardest stage of the fight has just begun; “from now on, we are on watch at day and night; not even a bird will pass here without our knowledge. We will wait to meet possible buyers in accordance with the spirit of this righteous and legitimate struggle. If they think they can pass this barricade, they might come. We will defend our work places until the last one of us falls, and we will not leave the companies enter the plant.”
‘Privatization is imposition of the imperialism’
In his speech to the public and and the population of Mugla, Girgin said; “The privatization is an imperialistic imposition, we call everybody who is against imperialism to support us. The privatization is the collapse of the republican economy. Everyone who defend republican values shall support us. Privatization means slavery; precarious employment; exclusion of trade unions; we call everybody to support us against slavery. We will not give up our work places. Our little number here is not a disaster; millions and the working class will be with us.”