Labor unions across Turkey held a one-day general strike on May 15 to protest privatization, lax workplace protections and their government’s perceived coziness with mining tycoons two days after a deadly mine disaster took the lives of at least 300 workers. It was the worst workplace disaster in Turkish history.

Protests were largely peaceful in Istanbul, the nation’s largest city, but turned violent in Izmir, its third largest, when police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the approximately 20,000 demonstrators. In Ankara, the capital, approximately 3,000 protesters, many of them wearing miners’ helmets, marched on the labor ministry.

The unions blame privatization of formerly state-run mines for making miners’ working conditions more dangerous. The mine in which the disaster occurred had been run by the state until 2005.

Although Turkey has experienced tremendous economic growth over the last decade, its record on industrial safety has worsened. In 2012, Turkey had the highest rate of worker deaths in Europe and the third-highest in the world, according to data from the International Labor Organization.

The unions are demanding higher safety and health standards for miners. They want mine inspectors to include independent experts not employed by the mining corporations.

The New York Times, May 15
BBC News, May 15
Labor Notes, May 20