UPDATED: agreement reached between Saknakhshiri, Tkibuli miners. Working conditions, salaries to improve
About one thousand miners in the Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines of Tkibuli have been on strike since June 10 demanding income tax returns from the salaries they have been paid during the period of the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: IPN.
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Updated: 14:55
An agreement has been reached between Saknakhshiri GIG and Tkibuli miners, who will return to work tomorrow, said trade union representative Gaga Isakadze.
Based on the agreement, working conditions will be improved. Starting August 27 mines will have new equipment, and employees will receive training to operate the new additions to the mines. In addition, miners’s salaries will be increased.
Earlier: 13:10
Saknakhshiri GIG refuses to increase the salaries of miners amid their protests in Tkibuli, west Georgia, saying that work is not being done systematically, the extraction of coal is reduced and thus the company is financially struggling.
The company said miners’ ‘destructive behavior’ was negatively affecting the development of the Mindeli mine.
During the pandemic (observing safety recommendations), the company did not stop working and despite very low extractions, salaries were not reduced and were paid on time,” said the company.
Saknakshiri added that salaries of miners have been indexed considering the annual inflation rate of 2019.
As for working conditions, the company says that the special commission of the Technical and Construction Supervision Agency has checked the crane machine of a work tunnel in the Mindeli mine and said that using the machine is allowed although existing flaws should be repaired.
The commission started inspecting Mindeli mine on June 10. The reason was the violation of safety rules by employees. On June 9, miners tried to get out from the mine earlier than usual… [By this time the crane machine has not been checked yet and could not be used as it should be checked before each use]…The lift [which was used by employees to get out of the mine] got stuck…Miners got out of the lift safely. The lift was repaired on that day [after the incident],” said the company.
About one thousand miners in the Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines of Tkibuli have been on strike since June 10 demanding income tax returns from the salaries they have been paid during the period of the coronavirus pandemic.
Moreover, they demand their salaries be increased and safe working conditions be provided by the company.
About 200 miners have been on strike in Tkibuli, western Georgia since March 13, demanding better working conditions and the pay for missed days.
About 200 miners of the Dzidziguri mine went on strike in Tkibuli region of western Georgia earlier today after the employer demanded they use the tunnel of Mindeli mine to reach their regular work site, which they say ‘takes too much time and effort.’
About one thousand miners in the Mindeli and Dzidziguri mines of Tkibuli have been on strike since yesterday, trade union representative Gaga Isakadze announced.
The new owner of the Tkibuli mines, Steel International Trade Company, has fully paid the salaries of miners formerly on strike demanding back pay, announced Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava today.
Two workers have been reportedly trapped in a collapse of a coal mass in the industrial city of Tkibuli in Georgia's west on Saturday.
One of two workers, trapped in a collapse of a coal mass in the western Georgian town of Tkibuli, was found dead late yesterday. The search operation is now over. Earlier that day the Emergency Management Service rescued another worker in the disintegrated "land mass" and transport him to safety.