Moscow. They were attending the first demonstration in which large numbers of workers have confronted the government of
Russian president Boris
Yeltsin with its economic and social fallures.
POUL FUNDER LARSEN
HE action was called by the official Moscow Federation of
Trade Unions (MFP) around a series of demands, including social protection, control by the labour collectives over privatization and indexation of wages. Sizeable contingents of workers were present from key economic areas that included machine building, ship-building, communications and transport, defence industries and state administration.
While only one Russian tricolor was on display, there were many red banners.
went on to attack speculators and would-be capitalists who take advantage of the shortages, and called on working people to strike in pursuit of their demands.
This call for political strikes was endorsed by the MFP chairman in an interview with Central Television after the demonstration. Boris Yeltsin's political honeymoon is seemingly coming to an end.
An important theme in several speeches was the effort by the new rulers of Russia to create a "strong executive power" . The less than democratic thrust of this government was again in evidence on the eve of the demonstration, when the protest organizers were denied access to their first choice of venue, the square in front of the Moscow Soviet building.
Another illustration of how the ruling "democrats" view the rights of other forces has been the reluctance of the Moscow City Soviet to include trade union representatives in its Committee on Privatizations. The hypocrisy of the new Russian leadership was pinpointed by Alexander Popov, a City Soviet deputy and member of the Socialist Party:
"While government leaders were paying lip service to the workers movement at the Congress of Workers Collectives on October 19 and 20" Popov told the crowd, "Yeltsin was preparing decrees on the ending of price controls — a move which will sharply reduce workers' living standards."
Some speakers retained an ambiguous attitude to the government, calling on Yeltsin and his ministers to be reasonable. But with the the social crisis growing more severe by the day, the confrontations seem certain to multiply. * 1. On the basis of figures provided by the Moscow militia. Central Television news and leading newspapers estimated the crowd at 50,000.
ing with him.
Some elements of the bourgeoisie are beginning to regret launching this adventure. For, making up for the time lost under Aristide, military commandos are devoting themselves with less and less restraint to extortion from car drivers, as well as the pillage of traders and strong-arm entry into the bourgeois villas.
The leaders of the political parties undoubtedly saw the coup as a means of ousting the government of René Préval, something they had not dared to do themselves a few weeks ago. In refusing to come out in favour of the unconditional return of Aristide, almost all the parlia mentary deputies gave de facto support to the coup. But in doing so they played the role of sorcerer's apprentice; on October 7, the army invaded parliament and, under the threat of arms, obliged those present to unseat the prime minister and install a new president of the republic, the judge Nérette. The new self-styled prime minister, Jean-Jaques Honorat, has said that he 28 favours negotiations. The army has already threatened to execute him. *
The placards brought by participants set the tone for the demonstration: The enterprises belong to the workers' collectives, not to the administration! For reforms that create jobs, not unemployment! Gorbachev- Yeltsin, feed and clothe the people! We need flats, not fairytales about privatization! Free prices equals starvation for the wørkers!
MFP speakers demanded that the Russian parliament immediately adopt laws pledging collective contracts in the enterprises and the indexation of wages. A shop steward from the large car plant AZLK aroused cheers when he warned of the dangers of the current "pirate privatization". But it was a woman trade unionist who drew the loudest applause when she outlined the desperate situation of women workers earning as little as 200 roubles a month (the MFP now puts the subsistence level at 510 roubles a month). She tat
Лето 1991 г
Цена 2 руб
The first issue of Inter-vzglyad
(Russian-language sister publication of IV) has just appeared - contents include a report on the recent World Congress of the Fourth
International, Ernest Mandel on economic alternatives, and articles on Marxism and the national question.
International Viewpoint #216 • November 11, 1991