Swedish Live Casino provider Evolution Gaming is facing workers unrest at its live studio in Tbilisi, Georgia where several hundreds of workers have gone on strike, demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
Evolution opened its Tbilisi live studio last year. The company’s operation in the capital of Georgia currently employs around 1,500 people.
Local news outlet OC Media reports that a first round of protests of Evolution employees kicked off on July 30 when a group of around 400 people went out in front of Evolution Gaming’s office. Employees are understood to have demanded a 50% increase of their wages. Most of the striking employees are shufflers who earn average monthly salaries of ₾400 ($140). However, they are also supported by a number of dealers, whose monthly wages are usually higher.
Aside from demanding higher pay, employees of the major Live Casino provider also asked for better working conditions at the Tbilisi office. Local media outlets report citing information from Evolution workers that insects biting people at the studio and malfunctioning air conditioning were among the issues that needed to be resolved urgently by their employer.
Following that first strike that kicked off on July 30, multiple employees have been fired via email or SMS for their participation in the protests in front of Evolution’s Tbilisi studio. Protesters told media that the company has so far fired around 45 people, pointing different reasons for its decision to lay off one employee or another.
One employee, a now former dealer, told OC Media that he was informed via SMS that his contract was terminated, even though he joined protesters outside of working hours. He said he was told that he was being laid off for using the emergency button, which employees at the studio are usually encouraged to use if they are unable to carry out their duties.
Unionization
It has also emerged that the striking employees have added the rehiring of the those dismissed after the first strike kicked off to their list of demands. Workers have also asked Evolution for guarantees that none of those participating in the protests would face disciplinary actions.
Evolution was quoted saying that the ongoing strike and any planned protests were illegal. However, under Georgia’s Constitution have the right to strike as long as they follow Labor Code rules. One of those rules stipulates that employees may only go on strike 21 days after notifying their employer and the country’s Labor Ministry about their actions.
The protesting employees formed a union on July 31, the day after the protests first began. The new union also lodged a request for mediation. It is understood that the Labor Ministry has already appointed a mediator to review the dispute.
Employees told local media that they are now waiting for 12 more days to pass in order to be able to launch a legal strike. Around 400 people are expected to join. And protesters said that they expect more lay offs as Evolution has recently hired 150 new employees.
Evolution told local news outlet Netgazeti that it was “absolutely open” to dialogue with “the segment of employees” who were seeking better wages and working conditions and that it respected “the freedom of expression of our employees.” However, the company noted that any protests must be “conducted according to Georgian law”, suggesting that the current events were not entirely legal.
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