Young workers organize in Georgia

A youth committee in the union was created a year ago. On 3-4 October, the youth committee held an organizing seminar to support the young workers to build youth power, increase union density, improve their structures and prepare for negotiations. It is the second in a series of seminars supported by IndustriALL Global Union and Norwegian affiliate Styrke. The first seminar focused on Just Transition, as the union represents many workers in carbon intensive industries.

The seminar was interactive, with participants divided into working groups to prepare their strategy. Participants were taken through an organizing process that covered strategic planning and task allocation, corporate research, accessing workers, identifying organic leaders, communications, mapping the workplace and doing structure tests to check if their organizing was strong enough to withstand resistance from the employer.

After expressing confidence in their structures, the young workers identified the key issues in the workplace, spoke about getting a mandate, and crafted a negotiating strategy.

This was followed by a role play, with participants divided into opposing management and union sides to conduct a round of negotiations towards a first collective agreement. Each side was given a brief containing the vital interests they would need to defend in a negotiation.

The negotiation was an impassioned drama, with boths sides expressing outrage and disgust before slowly making concessions and finding common ground. By the end of the seminar, both sides were approaching agreement on the sickness and attendance policy. It will, however, take many more rounds to achieve a collective agreement.

The seminar finished with the young workers outlining a strategic plan for the coming year.

IndustriALL assistant general secretary Kemal Özkan said:

"This seminar continues the outstanding work begun by our brother Tamaz. I am pleased to say that the union is in good hands with the new president Temur Suramelashvili and a committed and motivated youth committee."

Temur Suramelashvili said :

"Strong unions are essential to overcome the existing challenges in Georgia's labour market. The union needs new blood. Some jobs are at risk in the new, green economy so this project is very important. Youth should make their own statement for the benefit of the employees and I see many of them as future leaders of the union. We are grateful for the support and solidarity from IndustriALL and Styrke."

The young workers work for the mineral fertilizer company Rustavi Azot, which is the largest industrial enterprise in the country, Georgian Manganese, the Mina glass company and others.

After the seminar, a meeting was held between IndustriALL and unions affiliated to the Georgian Trade Union Confederation, to coordinate responses to current challenges.

Photos byNika Dolaberidze, youth committee chair