On April 22, 2010, metallurgists at the Zestaponi Ferroalloy Plant went on strike. Two days earlier, they had held a warning strike to express solidarity with two dismissed employees who were members of the Metallurgical and Mining Industry Workers’ Union. Along with demanding the reinstatement of their dismissed colleagues, the strikers called for a 50% wage increase, compliance with labor safety standards, and longer vacation periods. They gave the plant’s administration 24 hours to begin negotiations on these issues. When management refused to negotiate, the metallurgists resumed their strike. Local officials — the head of the Zestaponi district administration, the chairman of the municipal council, and the majoritarian MP — met with the workers and promised to help resolve the situation.

For three days, the plant remained shut down. Meanwhile, some of the workers also went on hunger strike. Union leaders from Zestaponi and nearly every other sectoral trade union came to support the metallurgists. After lengthy discussions, both sides agreed to end the protest and start negotiations. The plant administration requested additional time and the suspension of the strike in order to consider the workers’ demands. The metallurgists agreed, and the strike was called off.