Formation of new power in Georgia accompanied by series of strikes

A series of strikes with economic demands took place in Georgia amid the process of formation of new power in the country. Railway workers, miners, power engineers, workers of Poti Port and the factory in Borjomi, trade personnel and builders seek improvement of their working conditions.

On October 10, the strikes in Georgia began with the protest action of workers of Poti Port. 200 participants of the strike demanded improvement of working conditions, observance of safety regulations and decent wages. On October 11, their claims were supported by the Association of Trade Unions of Georgia, and after that the administration made concessions to the workers.

On October 15, miners from the Company "Georgian Manganese" began to hold protest actions. Initially, the protest actions were attended by about 1000 persons. Two days later, in the town of Chiatura, al mines and factories stopped working. On October 22, one of the strikers went on a hunger strike, and, in total, about 3700 persons joined the strike in Chiatura.

According to the recent information, released by the student movement "Laboratory 1918", at present, in Chiatura, 10 striking miners are on hunger strike.

"At depths of 3 kilometres from the earth’s surface, in a Chiatura mine, full of mud, 10 miners are on hunger strike, and the mine owner left them without attention. The miners demand competitive wages and normal working conditions," the "Georgia-Online" quotes the report of movement "Laboratory 1918" as stating.

On October 22, trade personnel from Chiatura reported their solidarity with the miners on strike and joined the protest actions. According to Nona Bitsadze, one of the participants in the strike, trade personnel earn their money due to the miners, who, in their turn, have to take food on credit because of their low wages, the "Georgia-Online" reports.

On October 22, builders of bypass road around Kobuleti, the Adzharia resort, also held a protest action. About 300 persons temporarily suspended their work, demanding improvement of working conditions and increase of wages.

Tomorrow, on October 24, workers of railway plan to hold a strike throughout the entire Georgia. Their main demand is improvement of their working conditions.

Till present, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Bidzina Ivanishvili, the leader of the opposition coalition "Georgian Dream", who won the parliamentary elections, do not officially comment on the situation with the strikes in the country.