Workers of “Borjomi” factories in Georgia complain to court about violation of their rights

Striking “Borjomi” workers have requested a court to oblige the “Borjomi” Company management to improve working conditions at the factories and reinstate dismissed workers, trade union leader Giorgi Diasamidze reports.

The strike of workers at two mineral water bottling factories located in the town of Borjomi has been going on since May 31. On June 6, about 400 strikers blocked all entrances to the enterprises, after which the work of the factories was stopped.

Today, the protestors have continued striking and blocking entrances to the Borjomi factories, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent has been informed by trade union leader Giorgi Diasamidze.

After Mikhail Fridman, a founder of the “Alfa Group”, which controls the “Borjomi” factories, was sanctioned because of the situation in Ukraine, the problems of the mineral water bottling company escalated. On May 29, the “Borjomi” factories suspended operation, dismissed dozens of workers, and cut the wages of the rest. The “Borjomi” workers did not agree with the new conditions and went on strike.

On June 9, at a meeting with Georgian Ombudsperson Nino Lomdjariya, strike participants said that the management of “IDS Borjomi” paid swages only to employees who signed contracts, and those who did not agree to the new conditions were being pressured.