Court Decisions
Publisher

Social Policy and Labour Law Journal
dergi kapak
86
-2025-
Full Issue (PDF)
Primary Language
: TR
Doi :
10.54752/ct.1644002
Full Text (PDF)
  • Uğur BAYSAL
Lessons Not Learned from the 1954 Zonguldak Grizu Disaster, the Effects of the 1955 Grizu Explosion on the Press and the People of the Region and the John Lewis Incident in Turkish-Usa Relations

ABSTRACT

The discovery of coal in Europe in the late 1700’s and its subsequent use as fuel for trains and steamships during the industrialization wave of the 1800’s brought about a revolution. In the Ottoman Empire, however, its significance was recognized half a century later, around the mid-1800’s. With the emergence of bituminous coal reserves in Zonguldak, mining operations took shape, and the region’s mining industry began to develop under certain rules and regulations. Although modernization efforts were prominent in Turkey during the early years of the Republic, no fundamental changes occurred in mining policies. Both during the Single-Party era and the Democratic Party period, the use of advanced techniques and equipment in this field remained limited, with insufficient safety measures implemented. From the discovery of bituminous coal in the region to the present day, mining sites have witnessed endless accidents resulting from a chain of negligence. In particular, numerous miners have been injured or lost their lives in accidents caused by firedamp explosions. Consequently, following a firedamp explosion in 1954, one of the worst mining disasters in Zonguldak’s history occurred-the 1955 Zonguldak Firedamp Disaster. The study examines the situation of the miners who were injured and lost their lives as a result of the 1955 Gas Explosion, the effects on the local population, the activities of politicians at the accident site, and the statements of John Lewis, the President of the United Mine Workers of America, along with the reactions to these statements. The research concludes that mine accidents can be minimized to a minimum level through the use of modern techniques in mining, the establishment and implementation of comprehensive legislation, and the implementation of strict oversight mechanisms. The study collects archival documents, national newspapers, periodicals, and books that illuminate the period in question using document analysis techniques. The obtained data has been evaluated using content analysis methods. Publications from Cumhuriyet Newspaper have been particularly emphasized, and a chronological and historical methodology has been adopted. Speeches and minutes from the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) are directly included in the scope of our study. State Archives have been examined, and information that enriches our work has been utilized. Only sections related to aid from the Red Crescent Archive have contributed to the study. This research aims to shed light on an important period in the history of mining in Turkey while presenting the causes of the disasters that occurred and the measures that need to be taken from an academic perspective.
Keywords : Zonguldak, Firedamp Explosion, John Lewis, Coal and Mine Workers

EXTENDED SUMMARY

It is possible to talk about a coal history of approximately two hundred years in the Zonguldak Mine Basin. How the first mining phenomenon emerged and who influenced the process was tried to be explained in the introduction section. In this section, it is stated that foreigners have a say in both management and production in the coal basin. On the other hand, efforts to be involved in coal production processes through the companies established by Turks have been witnessed. The official production history of coal, starting from 1848 until 1955, has been processed in accordance with chronology.

In coal mining, where injury and death rates are high, Zonguldak, known as the capital of labor in our country, has had a deep impact on the local people with hundreds of work accidents, large and small, and especially the firedamp explosion. When coal production and occupational accidents are compared between Turkey and developed countries, it is concluded that production and efficiency are low in the Zonguldak coal basins, but occupational accidents are more. In addition, while firedamp explosions decreased in developed countries, an increase was observed in Turkey.

During the Republican Period, a liberal economic model was adopted, and as a result of the unfavorable capital structure, a mixed economic model was preferred. This situation also manifested itself in mining. İn the region forced labor was introduced during World War II, but this practice was abandoned in 1947. Although some regulations were introduced regarding occupational safety during the Single Party Period, a comprehensive occupational safety law could not be enacted.

The hope that the expected legal regulations would be introduced in the mining sector after the Democratic Party came to power was gradually replaced by pessimism. As a matter of fact, the firedamp explosions that occurred two consecutive years in Zonguldak in 1954 and 1955 give clues about the need for legal regulations. A medium-scale firedamp explosion occurred in the same mine in 1954 and in 1947, but it turned out that the necessary precautions were not taken. Again, after the firedamp disaster in 1954, another major firedamp explosion occurred in 5 months in 1955, and very serious consequences were encountered. For the first time in the history of Zonguldak, politicians came to the scene of the incident, received information and pioneered the work.

Friendly states of the period sent messages of condolence due to the firedamp explosion in 1955, but the government welcomed the messages of condolence due to the disaster. However, the fact that John Lewis, the President of the American Mine Workers Union, recommended aid to Turkey in exchange for forming a commission in the USA and examining the mine that exploded with firedamp, disturbed the Turkish public opinion greatly. There was very serious criticism from the Turkish public, and it was as if the firedamp explosion was replaced by an avalanche of reactions. On the other hand, contrary to the reactions, it was evaluated that investigating the negligence in the firedamp explosion was vitally important and could be a turning point in taking precautions in future disasters. They summarized this as smoke coming out of a crooked chimney, pointing to John Lewis.

While the pain of the mining accident was fresh, judicial and administrative investigations were opened, and even the statements of all workers working in the mines were taken. It was decided to establish an administrative expert committee, consisting of people knowledgeable in their field. He announced that whoever was responsible for the firedamp explosion in the furnace would be revealed. However, while the judicial investigations were continuing, five engineers who were called to testify were arrested.

In the study, a scientific andLewis disciplined understanding has not been developed in solving chronic problems in the context of occupational safety.When two mining accident processes were examined, reflections of this situation were seen. The price of not taking the necessary measures in time had to be paid with the loss of many lives.

Again, in this study, those who lost their lives in mining accidents were defined as work martyrs. In the first stage, meetings were held with the miners’ relatives, but after it was too late, the local people, who had the mentality of what use it would be, did not show interest in these meetings. Contrary to politicians’ statements, financial aid was kept very low, and a process occurred in which those who lost their family members had to deal with economic problems. At a time when economic difficulties were felt in the region, workers who had to work in coal mines struggled not only with economic difficulties but also with psychological problems.

1954 Zonguldak Grizu Faciasından Alınmayan Dersler, 1955 Grizu Patlamasının Basında ve Bölge Halkı Üzerinde Etkileri ve Türk-ABD İlişkilerinde John Lewis Olayı

ÖZ

Avrupa’da 1700’lerin sonunda keşfedilen kömürün, 1800’lerdeki sanayileşme akımıyla beraber tren ve buharlı gemilerde yakıt olarak kullanımı devrim yaratmıştır. Osmanlı Devleti’nde ise yarım asır gecikmeyle 1800’lü yılların ortalarında önemi anlaşılmıştır. Zonguldak’ta taşkömürü rezervlerinin ortaya çıkmasıyla madenlerde çalışma hayatı şekillenmiş, belli kural ve kaideler eşliğinde madencilik serüveni başlamıştır. Cumhuriyetin kuruluş yıllarında Türkiye’de modernleşme çabaları öne çıkmış olsa da madencilik politikasında köklü bir değişiklik yaşanmamıştır. Tek Parti ve Demokrat Parti dönemlerinde bu alanda gelişmiş tekniklerin ve cihazların kullanımı sınırlı kalmış, iş güvenliği konusunda yeterli tedbirler alınmamıştır. Taşkömürünün bölgede keşfinden günümüze kadar maden sahalarında, ihmaller zinciriyle ortaya çıkan ve bitmek bilmeyen kazalar meydana gelmiştir. Bilhassa grizu patlamalarının yol açtığı kazalar sonucunda çok sayıda madenci yaralanmış veya hayatını kaybetmiştir. Bu nedenle 1954 yılındaki grizu patlamasının ardından, Zonguldak tarihinin en büyük maden kazalarından biri olan 1955 Zonguldak Grizu Faciası yaşanmıştır. İhmal ve denetimsizlik sonucu yaşanan 1955 Grizu Patlaması’nın ardından yaralanan ve hayatını kaybeden madencilerin durumu, bölge halkı üzerindeki etkileri, siyasetçilerin kaza mahallindeki faaliyetleri ve Amerika Maden İşçileri Birliği Başkanı John Lewis’in açıklamaları ve buna karşı oluşan tepkiler çalışmada incelenmiştir. Araştırmada, madenlerde modern tekniklerin kullanılması, kapsamlı bir mevzuatın oluşturulup uygulanması ve sıkı denetim mekanizmalarının hayata geçirilmesiyle birlikte maden kazalarının asgari seviyelere indirilebileceği sonucuna varılmıştır. Çalışmada, söz konusu dönemi aydınlatan arşiv belgeleri, ulusal gazeteler, süreli yayınlar ve kitaplar doküman incelemesi tekniğiyle toplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler içerik analizi yöntemiyle değerlendirilmiştir. Özellikle Cumhuriyet Gazetesi’nin yayınları temel alınmış, kronolojik ve tarihsel metodolojiye uygun bir yaklaşım benimsenmiştir. TBMM’deki konuşmalar ve tutanakları doğrudan çalışmamızın kapsamındadır. Devlet Arşivleri taranmış, çalışmamıza zenginlik sağlayacak bilgiler kullanılmıştır. Kızılay Arşivi’nden ise yalnızca yardımlarla ilgili kısımlar çalışmaya katkı sağlamıştır. Söz konusu çalışma Türkiye’de madencilik tarihinin önemli bir dönemine ışık tutarken, yaşanan faciaların sebeplerini ve alınması gereken önlemleri akademik bir bakış açısıyla ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır.
Anahtar Kelimeler : ÖZZonguldak, Grizu Patlaması, John Lewis, Kömür ve Maden İşçileri.

Cite This Article

APA
BAYSAL, U., & . ( 2025). Lessons Not Learned from the 1954 Zonguldak Grizu Disaster, the Effects of the 1955 Grizu Explosion on the Press and the People of the Region and the John Lewis Incident in Turkish-Usa Relations. Çalışma ve Toplum, 3(86), 1275-1312. https://doi.org/10.54752/ct.1644002