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Workers of Kulevi Terminal Complain about Their Labor Rights

November 21, 2012

Inga Gvasalia, Poti

Workers of Kulevi Black Sea Terminal held warning demonstrations with the request of increased salaries and adequate working conditions. First protest rally was held in the village center far from the terminal. About 200 workers of the terminal participated in it.

Demonstrators said on November 3, administration fired some of their employees for no reasons that caused general discontent of workers. Assembly participants said their colleagues were dismissed and part of them had been under psychological oppression.

During the rally, Kulevi Terminal did not stop working. “We support this government and we do not want to launch a new protest week in this country. If we stop working, the state will be damaged and we do not want it. We hope the administration will consider our requests,” Edisher Jobava said.

Another participant of the protest, Kartlos Jobava blamed employers in psychological oppression. He said employers from Azerbaijan enjoy privileges at the company because it is owned by Azerbaijani oil company Socar. “I petitioned to the terminal administration about the problems in the company; after that they started intimidation and threatening of workers. They do not communicate with people. They should inquire what we complain about and what we want to change in the terminal. Head of HR department Mamuka Goginava was particularly active. We request to stop similar treatment of employees and to restitute our colleagues who were illegally sacked from the terminal since November 3. In accordance to the Constitution of Georgia, everyone has right to freedom of expression. Administration could easily negotiate with us about our complaints but it did not happen. Workers have not filed any complaints to the administration for five years.”

Chairman of the Georgian Confederation of Trade Unions Irakli Petriashvili met participants of the protest rally. They set up Trade Union of Workers of the Black Sea Kulevi Terminal Ltd whose leader is Kartlo Jobava. Petriashvili thinks the workers have lawful requests and calls upon the terminal administration to stop discriminative approach to their employees. He said administration gives privileges to some workers on ethnic grounds. “It is fact that employees are unfairly treated at the terminal. Signs of escalation of ethnic controversy were detected in the company. According to my information, administration fires every worker who starts complaining. So, people founded their trade union and we will collectively submit their requests to the administration, which became bases of their dismissal before,” said Irakli Petriashvili.

Local unemployed people also complain about the terminal administration; they claim that company leaders do not consider their interests when hiring new workers. They blame the head of HR department of the Black Sea Terminal Mamuka Goginava in unfair selection of personnel. “There is terrible smell of oil in the territory of Kulevi. Children were also poisoned with it. Terminal’s administration does not consider any complaints. We request them to employ us as ordinary workers but they do not pay attention to us. There are only 25 people, who seek job in the terminal. Is it so difficult to find places for us?!” Kulevi resident Zaal Shengelia said.

Irakli Petriashvili listened problems of locals too and promised he would raise their issues with prime-minister. “Kulevi residents are unfairly treated. Their rights are completely ignored,” Petriashvili said.

Several days after the protest rally, terminal’s administration restored part of fired employees to their jobs.

The situation worsened after terminal’s workers learned about entrance of new sub-leasing company and they started new protest. Railway pier to release oil at the Black Sea Kulevi Terminal Ltd was assigned to Ltd Global Oil under lease. Employees have to sign new short-term contracts [three-months] with new company. Workers are afraid that new company will cease contracts with them after the term expires and they will remain unemployed. But they want to continue working at the terminal because they had permanent contracts there.

Director of Global Oil Ltd Gela Khuntsaria arrived at the protest rally near terminal and clarified to protesters that they do not face any problems. Deputy Chairperson of the Georgian Confederation of Trade Unions Ilia Verdzadze was there too. The latter said that based on the new labor agreements, workers will no longer have some privileges. According to it, their working changes will be changed. Gela Khuntsaria denied this information said that Verdzadze over-evaluates labor contracts that is not clear for him. Ilia Verdzadze said Khuntsaria’s statement was annoying and offered him free legal consultation.

“I lease pier and it is my right to keep or fire employees there; despite that I clarified to them that everybody will keep jobs. I will sign three-month contracts with them. I do not have right to sign longer contracts. I cannot understand why they needed this protest. Old government is encouraging them,” director of the Global Oil said.]

Ilia Verdzadze and Kartlos Jobava negotiated with the administration of the Black Sea Kulevi Terminal. After several hours conversation they decided that 33 workers, who work on the pier, will have their labor contracts ceased with the terminal and sign contracts with new sub-leasing company.

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