20 May 2004 06:24
Duma to discuss Khakasia hunger strike on Friday (Part 2)
MOSCOW. May 20 (Interfax) - The State Duma on Friday will discuss the hunger strike being held by Khakasia coal
miners who are demanding their salaries.
The issue was discussed at a Thursday meeting of the Duma Council, and is to be discussed again at a plenary meeting
of the State Duma on Friday, Speaker Boris Gryzlov said.
"I think it is a scandalous situation," Gryzlov said. It would have been possible to prevent the hunger
strike and provide for the payment of salaries, and trade unions could have contributed to that more insistently, he
noted.
Over 150 coal miners began their hunger strike on May 17 demanding payments of salary arrears, which averages 200,000
rubles per worker.
Four workers were taken to the hospital in ambulances on Thursday, and doctors advised another nine miners to end
their hunger strikes because of health reasons. Two workers were hospitalized on Wednesday.
Workers who pump water out of the coal mine are also taking part in the hunger strike. Meanwhile, the accumulation of
water in the coal mine could cause the mine's walls to collapse which would flood a nearby township.
The Chernogorsk town court has taken up the case of the former general director of the Yeniseiugol Company on charges
of not paying salaries. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG COA JOB POL] te tj <>
[Interfax] |
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