Chiatura Miners to Strike on June 5

On June 4, 2018, at 8:00 am, a full-scale strike of Chiatura mining complex workers will be launched.

The statement about the strike was made by the Trade Union of Metallurgists, Miners and Chemists.

The Union claims the talks about the improved working conditions and increased salaries have been underway with the company administration for a year but no agreement has been reached.

Based on the fact that the parties failed to agree, the Trade Union demanded a mediation process which started on April 17, but which also turned out to be ineffective.

The employees are demanding a 30% increase in salaries, while the company says it can afford only a 5% increase, this being the main issue of disagreement.

Chiatura mine is a large mine complex located near the town of Chiatura in central-western Georgia in the Imereti region. It is currently owned by Georgian Manganese Holding, a subsidiary of the British company Stemcor, and is part of a holding which also includes the Zestaponi ferroalloy plant and the Vartzikha hydropower station.

The Chiatura mine complex, which includes four underground mines and three open pit quarries, has an annual production capacity of 1.18 million tons of manganese ore and 400,000 tons of manganese concentrates.

By Thea Morrison