Kazakhstan: Workers Suicide Sparks Mass Protests
Ilya Budraitskis | 22.08.2001 12:25
Kazakhstan is the testing-ground where the giants of big business try out their plans to subjugate workers in Russia and other parts of the ex-Soviet Union. These plans include the most severe repression, beatings and jailings of trade unionists, who sometimes die as a result of the appalling
prison conditions. But the desperate poverty, non-payment of wages etc, has driven workers to carry on fighting regardless of the consequences.
prison conditions. But the desperate poverty, non-payment of wages etc, has driven workers to carry on fighting regardless of the consequences.
Please read the message that follows, email the model protest letter (or your own) to the Kazakh government (via Russian embassy email address at the end of this mail), and show your support for Kazakh workers now.
Finally, if anyone is interested in helping to organise a protest outside the Kazakh embassy in their country to coincide with the protest in Russia on 31 August 2001, please get in touch immediately at
ISWoR@aol.com.
Lisa Taylor
International Solidarity with Workers in Russia (ISWoR-MCPP)
************************
URALSK WORKERS REVOLT
On 8th August in Uralsk, West-Kazakhstan area, there was a suicide of 43-year- old worker Alexander Komarov, father of three children, after he did not receive his wages at the "Metallist" factory for 5 months. On 10th August there was a rally in his commemoration over 1000 workers strong. There were speeches by Zemlyanov, MP from Workers Movement of Kazakhstan, members of CWI and leaders of Workers Movement Kurmanov and Pogidaev, for beginning a strike
and resistance. On the 13th a march of 3000 workers of "Metallist" led by Kurmanov and Pogidaev began, and a rally was organised in front of the city government with the slogans "You're murderers of our comrade!" and "We need
our wages back!" There was great anger against the KNB (former KGB), the police and president Nazarbaev.
On the 16th a government commission arrived from Astana, the capital, and promised the money. But the majority of the workers didn't trust them.
Comrades! Workers from "Metallist" need your solidarity and support. Kazakhstan bureaucrats need your protests.
-Ilya Budraitskis
CWI Moscow, Russia
Please sign and send this protest letter now!
*****************************
Mr President Nazarbaev,
I am writing in connection with the workers at Metallist factory in Uralsk. These workers have not received any wages for months, causing severe deprivation and stress to the families concerned, which culminated, on 8 August, in the suicide of Alexander Komarov.
Labor without wages is slavery, and slavery is a crime against humanity.
Labor activists around the world are watching the situation in Kazakhstan closely. We demand an end to the repression against trade unionists, such as Ainur Kurmanov who has suffered arrests and beatings under your government.
No one will be fooled by the false charges of drunkenness and hooliganism which you have used to cover the political persecution of active trade unionists. We demand the rights of workers to organise in a union are respected, and that wages are paid to the Metallist workers now!
Sincerely,
TOWN:
COUNTRY:
Union/organisation:
……………………………..
Now send your letter to the following email addresses:
ISWoR@aol.com, budrabm@df.ru, dolgey@dol.ru
Finally, if anyone is interested in helping to organise a protest outside the Kazakh embassy in their country to coincide with the protest in Russia on 31 August 2001, please get in touch immediately at
ISWoR@aol.com. Lisa Taylor
International Solidarity with Workers in Russia (ISWoR-MCPP)
************************
URALSK WORKERS REVOLT
On 8th August in Uralsk, West-Kazakhstan area, there was a suicide of 43-year- old worker Alexander Komarov, father of three children, after he did not receive his wages at the "Metallist" factory for 5 months. On 10th August there was a rally in his commemoration over 1000 workers strong. There were speeches by Zemlyanov, MP from Workers Movement of Kazakhstan, members of CWI and leaders of Workers Movement Kurmanov and Pogidaev, for beginning a strike
and resistance. On the 13th a march of 3000 workers of "Metallist" led by Kurmanov and Pogidaev began, and a rally was organised in front of the city government with the slogans "You're murderers of our comrade!" and "We need
our wages back!" There was great anger against the KNB (former KGB), the police and president Nazarbaev.
On the 16th a government commission arrived from Astana, the capital, and promised the money. But the majority of the workers didn't trust them.
Comrades! Workers from "Metallist" need your solidarity and support. Kazakhstan bureaucrats need your protests.
-Ilya Budraitskis
CWI Moscow, Russia
Please sign and send this protest letter now!
*****************************
Mr President Nazarbaev,
I am writing in connection with the workers at Metallist factory in Uralsk. These workers have not received any wages for months, causing severe deprivation and stress to the families concerned, which culminated, on 8 August, in the suicide of Alexander Komarov.
Labor without wages is slavery, and slavery is a crime against humanity.
Labor activists around the world are watching the situation in Kazakhstan closely. We demand an end to the repression against trade unionists, such as Ainur Kurmanov who has suffered arrests and beatings under your government.
No one will be fooled by the false charges of drunkenness and hooliganism which you have used to cover the political persecution of active trade unionists. We demand the rights of workers to organise in a union are respected, and that wages are paid to the Metallist workers now!
Sincerely,
TOWN:
COUNTRY:
Union/organisation:
……………………………..
Now send your letter to the following email addresses:
ISWoR@aol.com, budrabm@df.ru, dolgey@dol.ru
Ilya Budraitskis
e-mail:
budrabm@df.ru
Homepage:
http://members.aol.com/ISWoR/english/index.html
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