To :

Mr. Mamuka Bakhtadze - Director General /JSC Georgian Railway mamuka.bakhtadze@railway.ge Mr. Konstantine Guntsadze - Chairman of the Supervisory Board koka.gun@gmail.com Mr. Guram Guramishvili - Director of Infrastructure Branch gguramishvili@railway.ge Mr. Aleksi Nikolaishvili - Director of Freight Transportation anikolaishvili@railway.ge Mikhailo Volynets, Head of Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU) 13 November, 2013

Cc:

FM: DD:

Dear Mr. Mamuka Bakhtadze, As you know, an agreement has been reached on several important issues at the collective bargaining negotiations that are ongoing between the Georgian Railway administration and the Georgian Railway Workers New Trade Union. Though, in the end, the negotiations reached a deadlock because of three issues that are essential and of the greatest importance for the railway workers and concern overtime work and its payment rate, bonus system and size, additional payment based on years worked, class and grade. One year ago, during the warning strike the Georgian Railway Workers New Trade Union met with the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the Head of the Partnership Fund Mr. Irakli Kovzanadze, who made a promise to the Georgian Railway Workers New Trade Union that the new administration of the railway, upon their appointment, would comply with the requests of employees, including those on additional payments and thirteenth salary. This indeed can be reached if both parties to the negotiations are ready to hold sensible and comprehensive discussion. Unfortunately, as we were informed, that it became apparent that assignation of the third party - a mediator from the Government would be necessary. Given the fact that, the mediation agency is in the process of formation and cannot render official assistance, the Georgian Railway Workers New Trade Union expressed its readiness to resume negotiations with competent representatives of the railway administration at any time in the nearest future. We would like herewith to express our support and solidarity to the Georgian Railway Workers New Trade Union and hope that JSC Georgian Railway management will correctly assess the constructive and sensible action - 10-day prolongation of the 21-day negotiation period and

express our hope that the remaining period will completely remove and solve the issues of the collective bargaining negotiations.

Expressing our respect,

Mikhail Volynets

Chairman The Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine