11:00, 24 April 2010

In Georgia, workers of Zestafoni factory and seven mines in Chiatura are on strike

A fortnight-long strike at the ferroalloy factory in the city of Zestafoni and seven manganese mines in Chiatura started on April 23. In total, about 6000 persons take part in it. Miners and factory workers were supported by the leaders of the Association of Trade Unions of Georgia.

The factory and the mines belong to the Limited Liability Company (LLC) "Manganese Georgia" - one of national export leaders.

In the morning on April 23, 2500 workers gathered in Zestafoni near the factory administration building. The night and day shifts refused to come to work; all the workers were together and demanded from the administration to satisfy their claims: increase salaries, pay for overtime, make longer vacations and improve labour safety. Workers promised to start a hunger strike should the demands be ignored.

The situation grew strained after a fight burst out on April 21 at one of Chiatura mines: the mine boss several times struck and obscenely cursed the miner who in his presence stated unacceptable labour conditions and announced the workers' intention to start a strike.

See earlier report: "Miners in Georgia start their warning strikes"

Author: Beslan Kmuzov

Source: CK correspondent