10 June 2004 17:48
Over one million protesters take part in all-Russia trade union rallies
Moscow, 10 June: About one million people have taken part in the all-Russia action of protest organized by trade
unions. Rallies and pickets took place in about 1,000 cities, the leader of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions
of Russia, Mikhail Shmakov, told journalists on Thursday [10 June].
According to him, the trade unions are particularly concerned that the clause on minimum wages may be removed from
the Russian Federation Labour Code and that a number of other changes may be introduced into the current legislation and
directly affect both working Russians and pensioners.
Shmakov made it clear that the trade unions' main demands include the payment of wage arrears in 2004 and a pay
rise by at least 50 per cent for budget sector workers. He also said the trade unions were against lowering the single
social tax.
[RIA news agency] |
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