Georgian Railway employees request salary rise, announce strike

The employees of Georgian Railway request increase of salaries by 50%, adding if their demand is not met, they will launch a large-scale strike on August 10.

Ilia Lezhava, the deputy chairman of the new trade union, says that Georgian Railway agreed to increase the salaries by 10%, which is unacceptable for the employees.

He noted the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia appointed a mediator, but the administration of the Railway refused to participate in the process.

Lezhava said if the administration of the Railway does not agree to hold negotiations with the employees, 4800 people will go on a strike.

“The worst thing is that the Georgian Railway refused to participate in the negotiations…Even if 100 people go on strike, the Railway will have to stop,” he said.

After the railway employees announced date of the strike, Georgian Railway issued a statement.

The administration says a 50% increase in salaries is unrealistic and they are ready to increase the salaries of those people who get not more than 1500 GEL by 10% from March 1, 2020.

The organization said the company management always tries to satisfy the demands and needs of its employees within possibility.

The statement reads that there are 400 members in the new trade union of the Railway and it does not have the legitimacy to speak on behalf of the full staff and, moreover, to announce going on strike due to unfulfilled demands.

“The company management negotiates with the staff in connection with any logical demand. But participation in the mediation process planned related to the 50 % growth of salaries is senseless,” the statement reads.

The company underlines that the General Director and the management of the Georgian Railway meet with employees regularly.

Moreover, the Georgian Railway says they are planning to revise the salary policy in the near future, adding the staff was also informed about this.

“With the efforts of the directorate, it was possible to obtain additional reserve funds and meet the needs of the employees within possibility. The Georgian Railway constantly cares for the improvement of the conditions of the employees and offers them various social projects in the future,” reads the statement.

Georgian Railway employees say their salaries have not increased since 2012, adding the salary of many employees is GEL 300. They also claim that they obtained the official right to start a strike on August 10.