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12 August, 2005ICEM News release No. 82/1998
Strikes and rallies will be held right across Russia today as the country's trade unions press for an end to anti-social economic policies and the immediate full payment of the massive wage debt owed to Russia's workers.
Demonstrations are already reportedly under way in the far east of the vast Russian Federation.
In the forefront of the action are unions affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). For ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe's message to the Russian campaigners, see ICEM News release 81/1998.
The ICEM's Andre Mrost reports from Moscow this morning:
Mikhail Shmakov, President of the biggest Russian trade union centre, the Federation of Independent Unions (FNPR) has held a final meeting before the events with presidents of the FNPR-affiliated industrial unions. The FNPR is the organiser of today's events.
General information before the action is the following:
127,400 factories and plants across the country owe wages to their workers.
At 37,000 of these factories and plants, unions are organising strikes and temporary work stoppages that will involve around 9,000,000 people.
Marches, rallies and picketing will take place in 9,672 cities, towns and urban settlements, including 1,198 cities where unions are organising picketing.
The total number of people involved in the various forms of protest action is expected to reach 28,000,000.
Rallies in Moscow and St. Petersburg will each mobilise around 150,000 people.
The Moscow Federation of Trade Unions is expected to prepare a resolution concerning the resignation of President Yeltsin.
Tomorrow, October 8, at 5 p.m. the government and the unions will hold a first meeting to discuss the situation. The union delegation to the talks will consist of nine representatives. Three of them are the Presidents of ICEM-affiliated trade unions which are members of Russia's Association of Basic Industries: Valeri Stanin, President of the chemical workers; Lev Mironov, President of the oil and gas workers; and Ivan Mokhnatchuk, President of the coal miners' Rosugleprof.
On October 9, there will be discussion of the agenda of the first meeting of the Tripartite Committee (government/employer/union), which is to take place on October 23.
Industrial unions affiliated to the FNPR have been invited to a meeting next week with the mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov. During his recent visit to the UK, Luzhkov announced his candidacy for the next Russian presidential election.
Demonstrations are already reportedly under way in the far east of the vast Russian Federation.
In the forefront of the action are unions affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM). For ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe's message to the Russian campaigners, see ICEM News release 81/1998.
The ICEM's Andre Mrost reports from Moscow this morning:
Mikhail Shmakov, President of the biggest Russian trade union centre, the Federation of Independent Unions (FNPR) has held a final meeting before the events with presidents of the FNPR-affiliated industrial unions. The FNPR is the organiser of today's events.
General information before the action is the following:
127,400 factories and plants across the country owe wages to their workers.
At 37,000 of these factories and plants, unions are organising strikes and temporary work stoppages that will involve around 9,000,000 people.
Marches, rallies and picketing will take place in 9,672 cities, towns and urban settlements, including 1,198 cities where unions are organising picketing.
The total number of people involved in the various forms of protest action is expected to reach 28,000,000.
Rallies in Moscow and St. Petersburg will each mobilise around 150,000 people.
The Moscow Federation of Trade Unions is expected to prepare a resolution concerning the resignation of President Yeltsin.
Tomorrow, October 8, at 5 p.m. the government and the unions will hold a first meeting to discuss the situation. The union delegation to the talks will consist of nine representatives. Three of them are the Presidents of ICEM-affiliated trade unions which are members of Russia's Association of Basic Industries: Valeri Stanin, President of the chemical workers; Lev Mironov, President of the oil and gas workers; and Ivan Mokhnatchuk, President of the coal miners' Rosugleprof.
On October 9, there will be discussion of the agenda of the first meeting of the Tripartite Committee (government/employer/union), which is to take place on October 23.
Industrial unions affiliated to the FNPR have been invited to a meeting next week with the mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov. During his recent visit to the UK, Luzhkov announced his candidacy for the next Russian presidential election.