Policemen Demand Return to Their Work Places

Policemen Demand Return to Their Work Places

Media News. Dismissed employees of Metro police have protested against their dismissal at a press conference held in the office of the Labor Party.

The police men were informed about their dismissal on November 8, when patrolling police entered subway stations. Although Mikheil Saladze, chief of the underground management department signed the decree about their dismissal as early as November 3 no information had reached those affected.

According to a statement made by George Gugava, member of the Labor Party, Saakashvili has paved the way for legislation, which allows for people being dismissed form their work places without any prior warning.”

Gugava announced the creation of joint strike committees and an appeal to the courts by members of the Labor party in cooperation with those metro policemen who have been made redundant.

According to Mamuka Munjishvili, junior sergeant of Metro police, on July 30, 2004, president Saakashvili issued decree No 297. Based on this decree employees of the main station of Ministry of Internal Affairs, of the divisions subordinated to the station and employees of the highways’ Patrolling Police would be awarded additional wages. The financing should be carried out under the budgetary provisions for the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Accordingly, the wage for officers of the underground police was to be 330 to 400 GEL according to their rank.

Mamuka Munjishvili states, Metro paid 70 GEL to its workers. However, they had not received any additional payment since August 1. Therefore the policemen demand the payment of the remaining sum along with compensation for their dismissal and an explanation as to why they had been discharged.

According to a member of the Labor Party, Soso Shatberashvili, the members of the Labor Faction will promote a request in Tbilisi City Council so that employees of Metro police can returned to their work places and that the outstanding wages will be paid by the Tbilis budget. Otherwise, the policemen may hold a protest action in front of the chancellery.