After more than a year of intense effort, workers at the Borjomi mineral water plant have succeeded in forming a new, independent local trade union and have joined the IUF affiliate Georgian Agriculture, Commercial and Industry Workers Trade Union.
- The organizing success comes in the face of double-digit unemployment, a general climate of repressive employers and recent political tensions across the country
- The union will now address key workplace issues including inadequate wages, safety issues, staff shortages, overtime, and work breaks through collective bargaining
- The Borjomi Georgia Company is a subsidiary of Borjomi International, the largest producer of natural mineral water in The Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic countries
The national union chairperson, Giorgi Diasamidze commented, “We will do everything possible to support the new trade union and its efforts to protect and advance workers’ rights. One key priority will be to organize training for union members so they fully understand their rights and can achieve their collective objectives.”
