Metro drivers stop strike as agreement reached with gov’t

Tbilisi metro drivers have stopped their strike on the third day as a verbal agreement has been reached with Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze over a gradual increase of salaries.

Drivers returned to their jobs at 2 pm today and said that their salaries will rise step by step from January 2019, until the hike reaches 45 percent.

The announcement was a relief for around 16 percent of Tbilisi residents, for 400,000 people, who use metro transport daily. 

Before the 240 metro drivers returned to their jobs, the Tbilisi City Hall had made public buses free of charge. However, the strike created serious problems for residents and on the roads.

The strikers, who receive  7 GEL ($2.8) for per hour, have demanded an increase in their pay to 10 GEL ($4) .

Their current salary ranges between 1,100 GEL ( $450) - 1,200 GEL ($491) without bonuses and transport benefits.

Including all the bonuses and benefits, their salaries range between 1,400 GEL ($573) and 1,800 GEL ($736), the Tbilisi Transport Company said.

The drivers stated after their meeting with Kaladze that they trusted the word of the mayor that their salaries would be increased.