The labour union leaders of the 9 military-industrial complex plants in the Far East of Russia, among them Zvezda and Amursky Naval repair yards, have decided to form a strike committee. A major strike is due by the middle of September, reports RIA News agency.
The action is prompted by the inability of the federal government to cover the salary arrears and to provide new orders to the plants. In particular, Amursky Naval yard has been on strike since June 16, while Zvezda Naval yard managed to force payment of the November '96 salaries, after running a blockage of the Trans-Siberian railway in the end of June.
The strike co-ordination committee is to meet on August 18-21 at Zvezda Naval repair yard to discuss the strategy. The strike itself is preliminary scheduled by the middle of September.