Solidarity action of Georgian trade unions with "Hercules" workers is more than 1000 strong

On October 1, the Association of Georgian Trade Unions held a mass rally in Tbilisi, dedicated to the Labour Day and solidarity with the workers of the "Hercules" Steel Works, located in Kutaisi.

"Three years ago, the Association decided to mark the first Saturday of October as the Labour Day. But today, the pretext for the mass was in the developments at the Kutaisi Steel Works, where the police had dispersed a strike and then arrested three leaders of the local trade union," Nukri Kvelashvili, the head of the youth wing of the Trade Unions Association, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The today's action has become the final one in a series of manifestations, held by trade unions starting from September 24 in front of offices of governmental agencies and international organizations.

The rally has brought together over 1000 persons representing trade unions from all over Georgia – Adzharia, Kutaisi, Tkibuli and Rustavi. The rally has adopted a manifesto to the government demanding to adopt a new legislation on labour protection.

The unions demand that the legislation should guarantee the mutual responsibility of employers and employees and define social guarantees for workers.

Moreover, the protesters demanded to investigate the Kutaisi police actions at dispersal of the rally at the "Hercules" factory.