The new collective agreement between the Trade Union of Railwaymen and Transport Construction Workers of Russia and the state-owned Russian Railway company runs from 2011 to 2013. It provides the railway workers with social benefits and privileges many of which are at rates that existed before the crisis in the economy.

The settlement ensures that wages are in line with inflation and provides workers with medical insurance, non-state pension provision, free railway transport, bonuses and social support during retirement.

Nikolay Nikiforov, chairperson of the union and an ITF executive board member, stressed that because of the union’s strong stance, the new collective bargaining agreement was, in some of its provisions, an improvement on the previous settlement from 2008-2010.

The new deal will for the first time also cover the whole company, although regional differences will be reflected in local legal provisions.