Striking miners at Georgia's top producer and exporter of ferroalloys and manganese ore had not yet responded on June 19 to Georgian Manganese's effort to end a two-week labor stoppage marked by desperate protest actions by some miners, including sewing their mouths or eyelids shut. The company issued a statement a day earlier in which it offered employees a return to work at the Chiatura mines with 12-hour work days and an initial 5 percent wage hike. The striking workers are demanding 14 concessions, including a 40 percent increase in wages. State institutions including the Health Ministry have been involved in mediation. To see the original story by RFE/RL's Georgian Service, click here.
Georgian Miners' Strike Marked By Grisly Protests Enters 14th Day
Some of the striking miners at the Chiatura mines have taken desperate measures such as sewing their eyelids or mouths shut.