Municipal drivers go on strike in Georgia's Batumi
TBILISI. Feb 12 (Interfax) - Some 300 drivers of municipal vehicles in Batumi went on strike Wednesday morning demanding better working conditions and higher wages.
"We demand the dismissal of the director of Batumi Auto Transport company, an increase in hourly rates and a collective contract," Gennady Diasamidze, a striking bus driver, said to journalists.
He said that a year ago the management promised to streamline operations to improve working conditions and raise wages but did nothing since then.
Trade unions support the demands of drivers. Head of the Ajarian autonomy trade union Ilya Verdzadze said that the management of the municipal company had promised to increase the drivers' wages.
Meanwhile, head of Batumi Auto Transport company Giya Loria said to reporters that the streamlining did not produce the expected results because additional routes were launched and exiting ones extended.
"Additional spending on new routes and higher fuel prices exceed the company's revenues. We fully depend on the local budget and therefore cannot raise wages at this point," Loria said.
Strikers don't intend to return to their jobs until their demands are fulfilled.