02 February 2011, 23:40
In Georgia, miners are on strike demanding higher wages and better working conditions
Today, starting from 6 in the morning, a full-fledged strike began at Tkibuli coal mines in Western Georgia. Their two-hour-long warning strike was held on Monday, January 31.
The miners demand that termless labour contracts were concluded with employees of the Limited Liability Company (LLC) "Gruzugol"; they also demand improved labour safety and wage indexing in response to inflation and growing prices, and repayment of debts with respect to those who perished or were injured in the mine in 2010-2011, and improved working conditions.
These demands were adopted at the meeting of miners held on January 27.
According to Tamaz Dolaberidze, Chairman of the trade union of workers of the metallurgical, mining and chemical industries, the strike will last until the bosses of the "Gruzugol" satisfy the miners' demands.
The administration of the enterprise and the city administration of Tkibuli were informed about the start of the strike. The "Trend" Agency reports that the above trade union expressed its solidarity with the strikers.
As reported by Zaza Gordeziani, technical director of the mine, miners demand a triple increase of wages, which is, according to his version, an unrealistic demand. "The miner's wage in the same as in coal mines of Eastern Europe - about 300 laris," he said.
In his opinion, should the strike last long, the mine will reach its catastrophic condition; and they will have to conserve it, the "GHN" reports.
