Urgent Action Appeal:
RUSSIAN WORKERS ON HUNGER STRIKE NEED YOUR HELP
Earlier this month, 57 Russian workers began a hunger strike in protest
at unacceptable treatment at the hands of their employer. They are
asking for our help.
The case of the workers at "Norilsk Nickel" has been publicized by the
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).
The workers and their union say that management is refusing to negotiate
in good faith and is systematically harassing union members. They have
threatened union leaders and activists. Workers have been urged by
management to leave their union.
The international trade union movement has called this "an unacceptable
and dangerous denial of basic trade union rights".
Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, passed by the
United Nations back in 1948, reads in part:
"Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the
protection of his interests."
Numerous conventions of the International Labour Organization reaffirm
that right.
Russia is a signatory to both the Universal Declaration and the various
ILO conventions.
The workers at Norilsk Nickel are asking us to all write to Russian
President Putin to tell him to urge the company to resume dialogue with
the workers and their representatives.
You can show your support to these courageous workers through
LabourStart's ActNOW page, here:
www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi
Please take a moment and do so today.
Thanks very much.
Eric Lee