Sukhumi: trolleybus drivers on strike demanding salary increase

The trolleybus drivers of the capital of Abkhazia are on strike for two days demanding increase of salary, which now makes about 2000 Russian roubles per month.

According Merab Maliya, one of the drivers, "this sum is just miserable."

Another driver - Gregory Ebzhnoy - told journalists that "the revenues collected from passengers as travel fares are not enough to form any profits of the enterprise."

"We're not only transporting passengers, but act as fare collectors and make repairs of our trolleybuses, that is, also work as mechanics, and all this - for such small salary," he said.

In the opinion the strikers, it is necessary to lift the travel fare or to increase subsidies on public transport.

The Sukhumi Trolleybus Park is funded from the city budget, and the city administration refuses to raise the fare, which now makes three roubles per travel.

The "Interfax" reports that this transport mode is used by most of townspeople, mainly, by pensioners.

The "Echo Moskvy" Radio reports with reference to official data that for the period of strike of trolleybus drivers the city administration will increase the number of buses and fixed-route taxis in the routes, where trolleybuses worked.