The Hindu : International : Teachers' strike across Russia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 21, 2004

International

International

Teachers' strike across Russia

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Teachers and medics held a one-day warning strike across Russia on Wednesday to demand higher pay. The strikers' leaders said they were pressing for a 50 per cent salary rise this year, while the Government agrees on a 20 per cent increase and only from next year. With an average monthly pay of about 3,000 roubles (just over $100), State school teachers and Government medical workers are the lowest-pay category of hired labour in Russia. "How can I survive on a salary of 1,870 roubles ($64), while the official subsistence minimum in our region is 2,600 roubles?" said Ms. Galina Maslova, a teacher of geography with a 20-year work record in Voronezh, 600 km from Moscow. She said she had to take a second job as sweeper to feed her three children. Union activists expected one million Government employees to take part in today's strike and another three million to support the action with demonstrations and rallies.

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