Georgian Teachers Protest In Tbilisi

TBILISI -- Georgian teachers unions held a protest in front of the parliament building in Tbilisi today, RFE/RL's Georgian Service reports.

Several hundred protesters rallied to demand payment of the customary "13th monthly salary," which was a part of the Soviet-era system of wage payments to workers at the end of each year but has since been discontinued.

The rally is the first protest held by Georgian teachers in several years.

Demonstrators told RFE/RL that they are irritated by the bright electric decorations on Tbilisi's streets for Christmas and New Year's celebrations when officials said they don't have the money this year for the annual awards that are traditionally given to the country's teachers.