Underground Train Drivers Held a Protest Action
Tbilisi.18.11.04.Media News. On November 18, Tbilisi underground train drivers held a protest action demanding higher wages. They state that their salaries do not correspond to the work they are doing.
The drivers blame the authorities of Tbilisi for not paying due attention to their situation as neither the Tbilisi City Mayor nor the Premier have taken an interest in the work of Tbilisi underground.
“The president of Georgia visited the underground and showed interest in our work, but Tbilisi City Mayor and Premier are not interested in our problems” – said the participants of the action.
They also say that the Tbilisi city government has reduced the underground budget in such ways that the management cannot raise the salaries of the train drivers.
According to Mikheil Minasovi, Deputy Director of the Financial Department of Tbilisi Underground this years budget has been reduced to 5 million 240 thousand GEL instead of last year’s 15 million GEL. This major cut does not allow for any increase in wages for underground employees.
Minasovi also stated that there has been an increase of 20% since December 15, 2003 and the management of Tbilisi Underground plans to further increase the salaries next year. However, as yet, it is unknown exactly how much this increase will be.