A Call for Inclusive Dialogue and Worker Participation
Chiatura miners must be given the opportunity to participate in the working group created to address the Chiatura crisis
🔹 We, the undersigned unions in solidarity with Chiatura are responding to the crisis and believe it is unacceptable that Chiatura miners and other residents of the town, whose future depends on this process, are being excluded from state-organized discussions about manganese extraction in the region.
🔹 As is known, on March 19, at the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health, and Social Affairs of Georgia (hereafter referred to as the “Ministry of Health”), an extraordinary session of the Tripartite Social Partnership Commission was held at the invitation of the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation, during which the situation in Chiatura was discussed. As a result, a working group was established, composed of representatives from trade unions and employers’ associations, to “discuss ways to resolve the issues and make a relevant decision.”
🔹 According to information published on the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page, a meeting of the working group created by the Tripartite Social Partnership Commission was held on March 28. The statement also notes that representatives of the “Chiatura Management Company” were invited to the meeting and that “The main objective of the group is to realize all social rights defined by the collective labor agreement to support the GTUC in working on continuing it afterwards.” The discussion also addressed the need to review the decision to close the mines and establish a commission made up of industry experts for it, which will also examine the company’s arguments regarding the unprofitability of the mines.
🔹 It is important to note that neither the Tripartite Commission’s session nor the March 28 working group meeting invited and allowed to participate the Chiatura miners and the general representatives of the Chiatura population, despite the fact that miners who lost their jobs and incomes have been protesting since February 28, seeking a meeting with the authorities.
🔹 This disregard for the local population and their complete exclusion from the decision-making process is a violation of fundamental constitutional and legal principles and must come to an end. Especially given that the miners have long expressed distrust towards the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation, which is participating in the process on behalf of the workers. Unfortunately, the ongoing developments have shown that union representatives do not serve the laborers and, worse, are attempting to discredit part of them. A serious incident occurred on March 27, when union representatives verbally insulted the miners. It is a shame that the trade union confederation, which should be working alongside workers to resolve the labor and social crisis, is instead against the miners who have been left without jobs and unpaid for nearly three months.
🔹 More broadly, the flaws and ineffectiveness of the current dialogue under the Tripartite Commission is evidenced by the lack of substantial proposals aimed at improving labor and social protection laws and practices and aligning them with relevant international standards. One key reason for this is that the dialogue process under the commission is not sufficiently inclusive. The Tripartite Commission currently consists of representatives from the government, employees’ associations (trade unions), and employers’ associations (each with six representatives). Civil society organizations are not included in the commission’s work or dialogue, and, most importantly, neither are independent trade unions (those not affiliated with the main confederation), despite their significant experience in labor and social policy matters and their representation of workers in sectors not covered by the commission’s trade union.
🔹 In this case, too, it is evident that the dialogue within the Tripartite Commission cannot ensure genuine representation of workers. Given that the miners themselves do not trust the Trade Unions Confederation, it is essential that any format developed within the commission to address Chiatura’s issues must include representatives of the workers and the Chiatura population.
Independent Unions are in Solidarity with Chiatura
🔺 Therefore, we, unions in solidarity with Chiatura call on the Minister of Health of Georgia, Mr. Mikheil Sarjveladze, to immediately meet with representatives of the Chiatura miners and ensure their participation in all future meetings of the working group/commission.
