19 May 2004 11:24
Fishermen go on hunger strike over wages arrears in Russia`s Far East
Vladivostok, 19 May: Eight fishermen from the Viktor Streltsov trawler, which was arrested in the city of Nakhodka
after returning from fishing, went on a hunger strike today. They only drink water and demand that the owner of the ship
should pay them wages for 18 months. The rest 24 crew members of the ship, arrested over the debts of Sakhalin Fishing
Company, intend to join the hunger strike.
There is practically no food left on the Viktor Streltsov and the fishermen were banned by public health officials
from drinking water available on board. The sailors have no money to return home to Sakhalin.
The Dalmos factory ship with 80 members of the crew has been docked in Nakhodka since January. It was arrested
following a suit lodged by the Russian sailors trade union over wage arrears. The deputy chairman of the trade union
branch in the Russian Far East, Sergey Fishov, told ITAR-TASS that the company owed R15m [over 500,000 dollars] to the
crews of the Viktor Streltsov and the Dalmos. The claim for the money will be considered in Nakhodka on 26 May.
Sakhalin Fishing Company has now gone into receivership. Its management says, however, that money will be available
only after the sale of its ships.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
