18:00, 30 October 2012

In Adzharia, striking road builders win higher wages

After the strike of road builders in Choloki, representatives of the road department and the trade unions of Georgia have managed to agree with the employer company to raise wages.

On October 22, about 300 builders of bypass road around the Adzharian resort of Kobuleti attended the protest action, demanding to raise wages. According to the workers, payment for the nine-hour working day is only 14 laris, and there are no days off. Road builders have stated that in the event if their demands are not fulfilled, they will continue to hold protest actions.

Negotiations were held with the administration of the Chinese Company "Sino Gidro", the employer. After four hours of negotiations, representatives of the company have agreed to fulfill the demands of strikers and raise wage by 5 laris (3 US dollars) per day, that is, by about 30-33 percent, the "Bulletin of Caucasus" reports.

"It should be noted that in winter period, road works are reduced, and, on that basis, the number of workers will be reduced from 400 to 230 persons," the "Georgia Online" quotes a representative of the trade unions as saying.