Volgograd truckers support establishment of trade union

Drivers of heavy-duty trucks intend to set up a trade union to protect their rights, said Alexei Ulyanov, an activist from Volgograd. According to his story, truckers from Volgograd took part in the rally near Moscow, which decided to hold an inaugural conference, elect the union leader and to form trade union units in regions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that truckers from several regions of Russia, including from the Krasnodar Territory, Dagestan, and Volgograd and Rostov Regions are protesting against the introduction of the "Platon" system that provides for collection of tolls from truck owners and drivers for using federal highways. The strikers announced their intention to launch protests in Moscow; and some of them are now in the suburbs of the Russian capital.

According to Ulyanov, the background of the recent developments prompts formation of the trade union of truckers.

"In mid-December, a founding conference is scheduled to elect the leader and start forming trade union units in regions," he said. "These decisions were made yesterday, on December 6."

The city of Yekaterinburg is planned to be the venue of the first constituent assembly of the federal union of truckers, reports the "Znak" News Agency with reference to Vyacheslav Vegner, a Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of Sverdlovsk from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF).

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.