(May 2011) The ITUC global trade union body plans to step up its campaigning on trade union rights in Georgia following a special meeting on the situation in the country on 5-6 May.

Representatives of the Georgian Trade Union Confederation (GTUC) and individual trade unions presented the latest evidence on the government’s attacks on trade union rights.

The ITUC argues that: “Georgia is rapidly becoming the black sheep of workers’ rights in Europe. The workers are being pressed to work in unhealthy and dangerous environments, trade union activists are being dismissed, and trade union leaders are being harassed and threatened.”

The deteriorating situation has lead the ITUC to argue that: “The whole existence of independent trade union organisations is put at risk.” One government tactic is to stop the check-off membership fee system for some unions. So far the teachers’ union is the worst affected and the rail union is under increasing pressure as a result of the change while the attack on their finances is having a knock-on effect on the GTUC.

There are fears that other unions will be targeted including EPSU affiliate, the Trade Union of Health Workers, which, at the same time is having to respond to the challenges of widespread privatisation and funding cuts.

The ITUC’s annual report on attacks on trade union rights provides further details on the situation facing workers’ organisations there.

The PSIRU research organisation visited Georgia recently and carried out a series of interviews for EPSU to show how local affiliates are fighting back against privatisation and attempts to undermine trade union rights.

In April, at the most recent meeting of countries in EPSU’s North East Constituency (Armenia, Belarus, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine and Estonia) affiliates agreed to send a letter to the prime minister of Georgia protesting at the cuts to the health service, privatisation and the failure to enter into a proper social dialogue with the trade union.