>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Date: Tue, 21 Nov 2000 08:58:37 EST >Subject: Astrakhan transport workers fightback! >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >RUSSIA INFO-LIST >from International Solidarity with Workers in Russia - [EMAIL PROTECTED] >ISWoR web-site - http://members.aol.com/ISWoR/english/index.html >****************************************************************************** > >**** > >Astrakhan transport workers fightback! > >Astrakhan - 3rd November 2000 > >In August 2000, the tramway and trolley drivers of Asktrakhan formed a local >of the trade union Zashita, with approximately 140 members. > >Soon after, the rights of these workers were violated. Although the city >administration had signed an agreement on the growth of taxes assigning a >minimum tax level of 900 rubles, and quarterly indexed pay, a realistic tax >is around 500 rubles. Illegal fines are being imposed and people are being >openly humiliated. > >After the Zashita local was formed in August, the situation improved. Drivers >received an offer of an extra 12 days paid holiday. The state labour >inspectors conducted an inspection and rescinded a number of illegal orders >from the bosses. Several baseless dismissals of workers and fines were also >righted. Negotiations began for pay raises and a collective agreement. > >The bosses, unable to stand the increase in worker bargaining power, stooped >to the lowest level of denial of peoples human rights and illegality. Workers >were called in each individually to the bosses, with the demand that they >leave Zashita union. Local radio openly repeated baseless accusations against >our activists publicly humiliating and accusing people, of drunkennes, >immoral behaviour, and poor work habits. > >These developments are part of pre-election provocations. Mayor Bezrukavnikov >- in an attempt to win a second term is opposing not only the working class, >but a whole host of national minorities and also small traders - is behind >these provocations. He refuses to meet with Zashita members. He has openly >lied, claiming that there would be no firings from public transport, when >tens of people have already received pink slips. > >Today, the situation with the transport workers is on the edge. Zashita has >been called to the prosecutor's office, and activists who merely distributed >leaflets calling for a strike are being investigated by the police. There has >been an attempt to bribe members of the collective. Members of the official >trade union have received presents of 300 rubles each. At the same time, tens >of workers, all members of Zashita are have been laid off, on a pay of 300 >rubles ($10.80c) to 500 rubles ($18) monthly. This new work schedule violates >the current labour code, and Zashita opposes it. > >In response, Zashita is preparing to strike. A strike vote was passed by the >membership. The bosses are compiling black lists of strikers and >sympathizers, who are to be found in large numbers in the official >Independent Trade Union Federation of Russia . We are asking passengers to >support the drivers and workers at each stop. > >Please send letters of protest to >Mayor Bezrukavnikov, Chernishevsky St. # 6, Astrakhan, Russia. >fax (+7-8512) 225 588 > >with a copy to local Zaschita workers at (+7-8512) 221 287 > >by Oleg Shein (workers Duma Deputy, co-Chair of all-Russia union, Zaschita) > >- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - > >ISWoR's Russia Info-List will distribute further information on this struggle >in English the moment it is available - >or go to http://members.aol.com/ISWoR/english/index.html for the latest >news. > >Thanks to Steve Kerr (Toronto SWP) for this translation. > >********************************************************** >The RUSSIA INFO-LIST >puts out information and analysis from a wide range of sources. >If you have something you would like to distribute on Russia Info-List, or >want to help in our practical solidarity work, contact: >[EMAIL PROTECTED]< >Box R, 46 Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8RZ, England >*********************************************************** > > _______________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki - Finland +358-40-7177941, fax +358-9-7591081 e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.kominf.pp.fi _______________________________________________________ Kominform list for general information. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Anti-Imperialism list for anti-imperialist news. Subscribe/unsubscribe messages: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________________
