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Russian government pledges won in massive road transport demo
2 March 2005
A huge road transport protest across the whole of the Russian Federation has secured a government promise to deal with fuel price rises and unfair competition in the industry.
Organised under an anti-fuel price increase slogan, some 450,000 road transport workers took part in the action run by ITF affiliate the Russian Motor Transport and Road Workers’ Union on 10 February.
The workers were making a number of demands including the introduction of state control over domestic fuel prices, which should reflect the federation’s economic development and its population’s income. They also called for the government to secure a level playing field between state-run and commercial passenger transport services – state-run buses currently only transport passengers entitled to free travel, while privately-run services only transport paying passengers.
According to President of the Russian Motor Transport and Road Workers’ Union Viktor Mokhnachev, “State enterprises are losing a considerable amount of money because they are taking passengers entitled to free travel. The union has been seeking to ensure that commercial and state-run enterprises operate under equal terms.”
Subsequent negotiations between Mokhnachev and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov resulted in a pledge by government to reduce the number of non-paying passengers on state-run buses, cutting losses by at least a half. The government also agreed to take measures to deal with fuel prices and consider other issues raised by the union.
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