Metro Workers Hold Protest Rally

Tbilisi metro workers held a rally at Rustaveli metro station on Tuesday afternoon, protesting against the decision of Tbilisi City Court, which stated that metro workers may go on strike only in non-working hours.

The union of metro workers Unity 2013 says the decision of the court is the equivalent of a restriction of their right to express protest, as the strike itself means refusal of workers to perform their duties as a form of protest.

This is the third time Tbilisi City Court has ruled against the metro workers, saying that a strike during working hours would paralyze traffic in the capital.

“Strike is the fundamental right of the workers but this right can be restricted for democratic, security or social interests and in order to prevent disorder or crime. Tbilisi's metro transit system is the cheapest and fastest means of municipal transport, used by 400,000 passengers every day, and its suspension will result in collapse of road traffic and infrastructure,” the decision of the court reads.

Metro driver Besik Avlokhashvili says the workers demand an increased wage, arguing that their salary of 1,700 GEL per month is not in line with the work they perform underground.

“We met withrepresentatives of City Hall and our employer Tbilisi Transport Company but no agreement has been reached. We obeyed the court’s two previous decisions and postponed the strike but we will not stop now,” he added.

Unity 2013 declared at the rally that they will go on strike on June 3.

The rally of metro workers was supported by several NGOs, who claim the decision of Tbilisi City Court is unfair.

By Thea Morrison

Photo: Tuesday afternoon rally at Rustaveli Metro

Source: Netgazeti

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