10 June 2004 05:44
One million people take part in union protests
MOSCOW. June 10 (Interfax) - Approximately 1 million people in over 10,000 Russian cities took part in the
all-Russian Labor Union's protest against the government's legislative initiatives in the social and labor
spheres, Independent Labor Union Association chief Mikhail Shmakov told Interfax.
"During the protest, labor union activists from several social organizations picketed the authorities'
offices in the regions, and a number of federal ministries in Moscow. There was also a rally on the Gorbaty bridge in
Moscow," Shmakov said.
He said that following the rallies, a union delegation met with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov and Health and
Social Development Minister Mikhail Zurabov.
"During our meeting, we thoroughly discussed the union's demands regarding the improvement of the
government's bills in the social and labor spheres, and have agreed to discuss these issues during a session of the
Russian three-sided commission on social and labor relations, the first session after a six month recess, which is
scheduled for June 25," Shmakov said.
He said union delegates held a similar conversation with Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov, who said the deputies will
consider all of the unions' amendments to the government bills. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG LAW POL] aa tl
[Interfax] |
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