Today, May 20, the striking employees of Borjomi Mineral Water Bottling Factories No 1 and 2 held a protest march, which was also joined by the local population.
“The company does not communicate with its striking employees. No negotiations took place between the company and the employees. They wanted the talks to happen without the involvement of trade unions, but the strikers did not agree. We are continuing the protest today and will continue until the demands of the employees are met,” Giorgi Diasamidze, Chairman of the Trade Union of Agriculture, Trade and Industry, told BM.GE.
“During the two days of the strike, the company discriminated against employees through direct intimidation and threats from the administration for participating in a legal strike and appearing on television,” the trade union said.
IDS Borjomi Georgia claims that as a result of the strike on Wednesday, the company temporarily suspended the work of both factories. The administration explains that the company ‘IDS Borjomi Georgia’ is fully prepared to resume the work of the factories at any time.
“In recent days, a significant number of employees have continued to work and are still willing to do so, but the illegal blocking of trucks and other vehicles by part of the strikers poses a serious threat to our employees, transport company owners and the strikers themselves,” they said.
The operation of both factories is suspended at this time.
Workers are demanding higher salaries and better working conditions. They are not going to stop protesting until their demands are met by the employer.
The organizer of the strike is the Trade Union of Agriculture, Trade and Industry.
By Ana Dumbadze
Related Story: Borjomi Factory Workers’ Protest Continues
