1.7 Million People to Take Part in May Day Trades Union Gatherings in Russia

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On Wednesday, Mikhail Shmakov, chairman of the Federation of Independent Trades Unions of Russia (FNPR), said that 1.7 million people would take part in May Day trades union gatherings in Russia. He pointed up that more than 1,000 cities and towns across Russia would hold rallies and marches to mark International Workers’ Day. Shmakov told us that the holiday began in 1889, to pay tribute to Chicago workers striking for an eight-hour day. He said that more than 80,000 people would take part in May Day celebrations in Moscow, which will include a large-scale rally of the FNPR, which will include members of United Russia and the all-Russia People’s Front. The KPRF, LDPR, A Just Russia, and various public organisations will hold their own May Day actions.

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Kamchatka Krai will hold the first Spring and Labour Day celebrations in Russia. The central square of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia’s easternmost city, will be the open-air venue for the festivities. A festive holiday programme will feature performances of amateur art groups and the city’s brass band. Moscow will host a large-scale procession of the FNPR, with participation by United Russia members, along with the all-Russia People’s Front. The KPRF, LDPR, A Just Russia, and various social movements will hold similar Labour Day events. Over a million and a half people intend to participate in May Day trades union events in Russia.

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Today, President Vladimir Putin will award the first people with the re-established Hero of Labour order. The ceremony will be at the Constantine Palace near St Petersburg. He will grant this distinction to five Russians “for outstanding performance in state, public, and economic activities”. Valery Gergiev, the outstanding conductor and art-director of the Mariinsky Theatre is one of the recipients. The Maestro trained a galaxy of world-class artists; much of his work is dedicated to supporting music ensembles and talented Russian artists. Vladimir Putin signed the decree on the re-establishment of this award on 29 March 2013. Now, the Hero of Labour is the second-highest mark of state recognition, after the Hero of Russia.

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Today, in St Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin said, “We need to make good work respected again, as this is the only way we can make Russia great”. He said this when he congratulated the first recipients of the reinstated Soviet-era title of Hero of Labour. Putin told the first five winners of the much-coveted award, “This country is proud to have people like you”. Amongst the first recipients were Valery Gergiev, artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre, tractor driver Vladimir Melnik, prominent neurosurgeon Alexander Konovalov, and Rosatom metal worker Konstantin Chumanov. Chumanov said that Rosatom was now one of the world’s very best such companies, boasting a full portfolio of nuclear reactor orders. Mentioning the post-Fukushima safety level at existing nuclear power plants everywhere, President Putin said nuclear safety at Russian NPPs was second to none.

1 May 2013

Voice of Russia World Service

http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_05_01/1-7-mln-people-to-take-part-in-May-Day-trade-union-demonstrations-in-Russia/

http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_05_01/Spring-and-Labor-Day-in-Russia/

http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_05_01/Russia-s-President-Putin-awards-honorable-distinctions-to-Heroes-of-Labor/

http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_05_01/Putin-awards-insignia-of-distinction-to-the-first-Heroes-of-Labor/

Editor’s Note:

The title Hero of Labour is a Stalin-era title. You can have President Putin’s attitude to the Stalin era or you can have Victor Potapov’s attitude to the Stalin era. Most Russians (both at home and here in the diaspora) agree with President Putin, NOT Langley’s stooge Potapov… I wonder why…

BMD

Greek Public Transport Workers Embark on Another 24-Hour Strike

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On Thursday, workers of practically all forms of public transport in Greece announced a 24-hour strike to protest against wage cuts to save money. Trains and passenger ferries are at a standstill across the country, and in Athens, buses, trolleys, and urban rail are idle for the next 24-hours. At the same time, the metro and trams still run in the Greek capital… home to over a third of the entire population of the country. Last week, the rightwing New Democracy government invoked constitutional law to end a 10-day public transport strike in Athens, declaring compulsory civil mobilisation. Now, engine drivers and service personnel on the metro and trams must work or face arrest.

31 January 2013

Voice of Russia World Service

http://english.ruvr.ru/2013_01_31/Greek-transport-workers-embark-on-another-24-hour-strike/

18 November 2012. The Church Blessed the Unions… NOT Capital… Get Your Mind Right

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When the po-nashemu people were victimised by their American capitalist bosses, the Church blessed the labour movement. Hell, the Church blessed the Wobblies! Russian Orthodox people (and Ukes, Serbs, and Carpatsky Rus, too) were in the forefront of the union struggle. We stood tall in the sit-down strikes, we fought the management goons, and we gave the scabs what they deserved. That’s one reason why the Valley went for President Obama… a lot of the people remembered their roots; they didn’t forget what their grandparents went through.

As for those who voted for the Republicans… shame on you! Your forebears will denounce you… if you had “bettered yourself”, you had an obligation to help those in the same boat that your forebears were in… but no… you voted for greed and warfare. I, for one, bitterly regret ever having voted for the greedster GOP… I kicked my ancestors in the teeth by doing that.

The Church blessed the unions… by its very nature, it can’t bless Mammon (Capital). After all, didn’t Our Lord Christ say, “You can’t serve both God and Mammon. For no man can serve two masters… he will hate the one and love the other”. That tells us what our duty before God and man is… and it isn’t voting for those who’d kick our fellow countrymen in the face for the sake of filthy lucre. I stand with Christ… what about you?

BMD

Greek Labour Unions to Call General Strike

A destitute old-age pensioner begging in Athens… this is what the Greek rightwing and Willard Romney want… any questions?

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Greece‘s two biggest labour unions called a 48-hour strike for 6-7 November to protest the latest wave of austerity measures demanded by foreign lenders set to be voted in parliament next week. On Wednesday, Ilias Iliopoulos, general secretary of public sector union ADEDY said, “We’ll strike to stop the measures from being voted in parliament. We won’t allow the government to hurt Greek people anymore”. Private sector union GSEE, the country’s largest representing about 2 million workers, is also joining the walkout. The government plans to submit for parliamentary approval a 14 billion Euro (570 billion Roubles. 18.2 billion USD. 11.25 billion UK Pounds) package of austerity measures to include, amongst other things, wage and pension cuts.

1 November 2012

Voice of Russia World Service

http://english.ruvr.ru/2012_11_01/Greek-labor-unions-to-call-general-strike/

Editor’s Note:

Observe well how the rightwing Greek government is demanding that working people pay the entire brunt of the crisis. The Affluent Effluent benefitted from the loans, they continue to party on unabated, but the ordinary Greeks have to suffer so that the One Percent can skate on by without a care. Americans should take note of this… its Willy’s policy. “Soak the ordinary folks so that the Affluent Effluent can continue to live high”… that’s the unashamed mantra of the Republican Party. It’s no wonder that they’re headed for a train wreck, isn’t it?

Ponder this… the “Evangelicals”, “Pentecostalists”, and Mormons all approve of such evil. It says much about their “religion”, doesn’t it?

BMD