Who is for 'satisfactory' please step forward. (July 18, 1998)

On July 15 several labor unions (representatives of automobile and agricultural, machine-building, metalworking, petrochemical, electronic and defense industries) hold a rally 'For Labor and Worthy Wages' in front of the stadium 'Tractor'. Near three thousand workers who preferred participating in the rally to going to their dachas gathered in front of the stadium. Among them were the representatives of work groups from different parts of the republic. It was decided to encourage the participants by the revolutionary songs. The participants were waiting for the beginning of the rally listening to Varshavyanka and Marseilles.

To the opinion of the participants of the rally monthly wages in the amount of 12-15 million rubles can be considered worthy. And they are expected to be paid regularly. By June 25 the wages debt of the state has become equal to 1 trillion 352-milliard rubles. Meanwhile, the rate of inflation has become equal to 18% in 5 months and by the end of the year it is likely to reach 40% mark.

One of the demands put forward at the rally was to adopt the law about labor protection. The participants also demanded to cancel limitations put on paying pensions to temporary disabled workers and to reconsider the system of pensions' maintenance . Besides, the workers intended to get access to television and radio and also to the press.

Alexander Byhvostov, conductor of the rally, offered to gather in front of the stadium regularly and to invite those responsible for making decisions though they are not likely to come. Alexander Ivanovich decided to improvise a kind of opinion poll. He formulated the question quite categorically:

'Who finds the governmental policy unsatisfactory, please raise your hands. Those who find it satisfactory please step forward.'

None of the present at the rally stepped forward. So, the Government was given an unsatisfactory mark.

As it is usually done the rally adopted the resolution. If social-economic policy of the Government isn't changed the workers are going to stage an action of protest on the central squares of Minsk and of regional centers in October. But that time the demand will be ' Government is to be dismissed'.

It should be noted that the rally was organized quite well. Nevertheless, after it was over some of the participants were eager to start fighting. They seemed to have different point of view and wanted to express it. They made an attempt to take the already switched off microphone. This attempt was not of much success thanks to interference of the security service.

Tatiana Schedrenok.
Photo by Igor Levitin.

Translated by Veronica Sai.
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