31 May 2004 15:29
Workers go on hunger strike over wage arrears in Russia`s North Caucasus
[Presenter] Workers at a mining equipment plant in the town of Shakhty, Rostov Region today announced a hunger strike
demanding that their wage arrears should be paid immediately. Sofya Brykanova gives the details over the phone.
[Correspondent] Nine workers at the mining equipment plant have started a hunger strike. The Rostovugol [Rostov coal]
trade union committee [word indistinct] explained that the accumulated wage arrears forced them to do so. In all, the
debt stands at over R30m [1,034,839 dollars]. The hunger strikers are primarily demanding that the wage arrears should
be paid in full. The workers are also demanding that the officials who violated labour legislation be brought to book.
The trade union committee said that the duration of the action would depend on a decision by the Rostovugol company,
which owns the plant. At the same time, the main enterprise is being declared bankrupt and its property will be put up
for auction only in two weeks' time. Rostovugol said that the opportunity to pay the wage arrears may emerge only
after this.
[Radio Russia] |
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