“We Will Turn Chiatura Into a Dead Town” A Worker on Strike Said

“We will block every street in Chiatura and will turn it into a dead town,” one of the worker strikers Merab Iakobidze said during their meeting with the administration of the Georgian Manganese on October 17.

Representatives of the Georgian Manganese administration offered miners to increase their salaries at 10% at the expense of 13% bonuses. The miners got astonished with the offer and left the negotiation room in protest.

They said the proposal was unacceptable and they will not return to working places before their requirements are satisfied. They request salaries relevant to their work, protection of sanitary norms, supply of special uniforms and health insurance policies.

The situation went beyond frames after the strikers tried to break through the door of the administrative building. Head of Georgian Manganese press-center Maka Kvaratskhelia said the administration is waiting for the miners’ reply on their proposals and they will make concrete decisions only afterwards.

Chiatura district majoritarian MP Malkhaz Tsereteli said Coalition Georgian Dream supports miners and will protect their rights. 

Mari Tabidze, Chiatura