Workers of Poti Port go on indefinite strike

Today, starting from 08:30 a.m., more than 1200 workers of the Poti Port declared an endless strike. They states that they will be on the hunger strike, till their demands for higher wages and better working conditions are fulfilled.

Koka Sadjaya, Chairman of the port trade union, stated that at the meeting with the administration, held on October 31, they managed to reach an agreement only for several items: the administration only promised the accomplishment of toilets and small increase of wages, the "News.ge" reports.

To consider the remaining items, the administration asked for time period till January 1, 2013. The strikers are indignant at the fact that the port administration fails to comply with the agreement, concluded with the workers during the first strike.

"In our port, maximum wage is 200-300 laris per month, while workers of the 7^th quay receive 950 laris per month. We cannot understand the reasons for that difference. We ask for similar wages," Koka Sadjaya stated.

Starting from April 2011, the Poti Port is owned by the Company "APM Terminals", which is a subsidiary of the Danish group "AP Moller-Maersk". In May 2011, the Corporation "Poti Seaport" changed its name to "APM Terminals-Poti".

"We understand that the workers, who are dissatisfied with the working conditions and wages, may have claims against the administration. However, it is unclear when they say that the port administration does not respond to their demands," said Joseph Crowley, General Director of the Company.

According to him, the workers of the port are aware that an increase in wages takes place in each January. Besides, Joseph Crowley also reported that on Wednesday, October 31, the workers of the port were informed about the next increase in wages by 20 percent, which would come into force in January 2013, the "Interfax" reports.