Striking miners plan to rally at Tbilisi office of Georgian Manganese on 15th day of protests

About 40 of 3,000 striking miners from Georgia’s western city of Chiatura, who on Monday arrived in the capital city on the 14th day of their protests demanding increase in salaries and decent working conditions, on Tuesday plan to march to the Tbilisi office of Georgian Manganese, an employer company. 

The miners decided to arrive in Tbilisi following the company’s “insulting” statement on Monday in which it had accepted a five percent increase in salaries instead of demanded 40 percent, a 12-hour shift instead of 8-hour and allowing an audit in the country’s major plant. 

The Georgian health and labor ministry on June 12 engaged in mediation, following the decision of 11 miners to go on hunger strike, with two of them sewing their mouths and eyes shut in protests. 

The miners claim their average salaries were lower than $400, making them “unable” to earn their living or cover bank loans. 

Along with the increase in salaries, the miners are also demanding improved insurance and nutrition, vacations and curbing the pollution in the city caused by extractions. 

Domestic environmental organizations claim the city is highly polluted, alleging the state representatives present in the company since 2017 to avoid damage to the environment, had been affiliated with the government and “doing nothing than taking money”. 

Georgian Manganese is currently owned by the Florida-based Georgian American Alloys, owned by Ukrainian tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskyi. 

Georgian NGOs and civil society representatives call on the public to join the miners’ protest in Tbilisi to exert pressure on the company to meet the workers’ “fair” demands.