Due to the sanctions imposed on Russia, both bottling plants of “Borjomi” temporarily suspended operations on April 29, 2022.

Forty-nine employees were dismissed, and around 1,000 workers entered mediation with company management. The company, citing the crisis, offered them revised contract terms. Many employees agreed to sign only if they were guaranteed a return to their original contracts once operations resumed.

On May 19, the controlling company of IDS Borjomi offered the Georgian government a free transfer of part of its shares. After the mediation process failed, workers at the Borjomi bottling plants went on strike on May 31.

Their demands included:

• Immediate reinstatement of 50 unlawfully dismissed employees
• Return to the old contracts and a 25% salary increase, as well as the dismissal of individuals accused of coercion, pressure, and intimidation
• Transition from fixed-term to permanent contracts
• Signing of a collective agreement

Starting June 6, the strikers began picketing all factory entrances to prevent distribution vehicles from entering the premises. Police repeatedly demanded that they leave the area, but the workers refused to disperse.

On June 13, it was announced that IDS Borjomi International had transferred part of its shares to the Georgian government free of charge. As a result of the deal, Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman — who was under international sanctions — lost his controlling stake in the company.

According to Merab Akhmeteli, Director of IDS Borjomi Georgia, the recent changes in the shareholder structure gave the company greater ability to respond to employees’ concerns.

The mediation process ultimately concluded successfully. “Those employed for three and six months were moved to permanent contracts, as we demanded. All 50 dismissed employees returned to work, except for those who chose not to — they received six months’ compensation,” said Giorgi Diasamidze, a representative of the Labor union, who represented about 400 striking workers during the mediation. He added that both the employer and employees made significant concessions.

On June 21, 2022, the Borjomi workers’ strike officially ended.