- Title: RUSSIA: HUNDREDS OF DEFENCE INDUSTRY WORKERS PROTEST AT NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES.
- Date: 8th July 1998
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 8, 1998) (RTV - NO RESTRICTIONS) 1. GV/PAN: WIDE SHOT OF THE RALLY NEAR A CHURCH IN CENTRAL MOSCOW 0.09 2. MCU: MAN CHANTING:" BORIS,RESIGN! " 0.11 3. MCU: PEOPLE CHANTING 0.16 4. MV: PROTESTERS CARRYING RED BANNERS AND POSTERS 0.20 5. GV: FLAG OF THE ALL RUSSIAN MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX WORKERS'UNION 0.22 6. CU/MV/PAN: PROTESTER SAYING: "THERE'S LITLE HOPE BUT TO REMAIN SILENT AND DO NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE" (RUSSIAN)/ PROTESTERS CHANTING: "YELTSIN AND THE GANG MUST BE TRIED" (2 SHOTS) 0.39 7. MV: POSTER READING "BORIS, THE RAILWAY TRACKS ARE WAITING FOR YOU" 0.43 8. GV: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING ALONG THE STREETS (4 SHOTS) 1.09 9. SCU: POLICEMAN 1.12 10. MV/GV: RALLY PARTICIPANTS CHANTING "YELTSIN, RESIGN" (2 SHOTS) 1.21 11. CU: WOMAN SAYING "THE CENTRAL AERODYNAMICS INSTITUTE IS ASKING TO RID US OF YELTSIN." 1.25 12. GV/CU: WOMAN SPEAKING (RUSSIAN)/ MAN SAYING "POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC GOALS HERE COINCIDE. WITH A GOOD A MASTER ANY HOUSEHOLD IS GOOD. WITH A POOR ONE - YOU CAN SEE FOR YOURSELF WHAT HAPPENS." (RUSSIAN/ LONG VIEW DEMONSTRATION (3 SHOTS) 1.59 KEMEROVO, RUSSIA (JULY 8,1998) (RTR-NO ACCESS RUSSIA) 13. GV: TENTS NEAR RAILWAY/ TRAIN COMING 2.09 14. GV: STRIKING MINERS SITTING NEAR TENTS 2.13 15. GV/MV/GV/PAN: VARIOUS OF MINERS SITTING/ POLICEMEN (3 SHOTS) 2.25 16. GV: RAILWAY 2.28 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 23rd July 1998 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
- City:
- Country: Russia
- Reuters ID: LVA4F2OIHV3YN6L5QCWFIML5NNFY
- Story Text: Hundreds of workers from Russia's defence industry have staged rallies in Moscow and St Petersburg, protesting at non-payment of wages for more than a year.
Their cause has been echoed by striking miners who have again blockaded the stategic Trans-Siberian railway, after failing to obtain a swift payment of back wages.
Around 1,000 civilian workers employed by the defence industry took to the streets of Moscow on Wednesday (July 8), protesting at their lack of wages and calling for an end to the government of President Boris Yeltsin.
Many gathered outside the Russian Defence Ministry carrying banners and placards."Yeltsin - quit!" read one banner.Another said: "Yeltsin -- guarantor of non-payments".
One man acknowledged to reporters that their protest was little more than symbolic, but added "to remain silent is impossible" Housing is a long-standing problem for the armed force, and some of the protesters face losing their homes under a series of sell-offs of government assets.
The protest was regarded as probably more significant that similar rallies by workers in Moscow in that those taking part represent some of the most succusseful elements of the military establishment.
Amongst those were representatives from Russia's Central Aerodynmamics Institute who have seen their once-elite role in designing civilian and military aircraft severely undermined by the cash-strapped Moscow government.
On Tuesday the Railway Ministry announced that the miners strike blocked the transport of goods on the Trans-Siberian railway had cost around 12.3 million roubles (2 million U.S.
dollars), in lost revenues.It said 24 trains had been blocked and 19 had been diverted.
The miners were an important source of support for Yeltsin in 1989-90 in his struggle against Communist rule but have lost out in market reforms he has presided over as president.
Anger at unpaid wages has also prompted strikes by utility workers which have led to power cuts in Vladivostok, the main city in Russia's Far East.Water supplies there have also been hit by the strikes, dry weather and a poor irrigation system.
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