Oleg Shein of the trade union "Defense" is not the same as Oleg Shenin of the UCP-CPSU - note of the web-adminstrator.
Oleg Shein is one of the leaders of the Russian militant labor union "Defense." He organized a number of strikes, occupations of enterprises in the city of Astrakhan, street blockades, court actions in the defense of workers' rights, financial inspections of enterprises run by corrupt bosses. On Shein's initiative, the workers of Astrakhan began organizing the locals of the independent union "Defense" on their enterprises. There are now fifty of them actively involved in day-to-day struggles: for the timely payment of wages and wage raises, against mass layoffs and management corruption.
In 1996, Oleg Shein was elected a Co-Chairman of the All-Russian Alliance of the Workers' Labor Union "Defense." He is an organizer of the national campaign against the new anti-labor Labor Code, which introduces a 12-hour work day. In February 1999, the Regional Conference of "Defense" in Astrakhan nominated Shein for elections to the State Duma. His success would allow us to reach a higher level of organization and struggle.
The Russian working class now has a unique chance to win a beachhead in the State Duma. Shein is the only candidate from workers' collectives who has a real chance of winning in these elections because, as a member of the regional parliament, he helped a great number of Astrakhan residents and because of the high reputation of "Defense" in this city.
The situation in Astrakhan is very tense. The authorities and Shein's opponents tried everything to prevent his registration by the electoral commission. The police harassed him and his campaign workers. His campaign headquarters has been flooded with threats from anonymous callers. Last week his campaign manager was attacked by two men and stabbed, but was able to escape.
Shein runs against the candidates from the local bourgeoisie and bureaucracy: the former chief of the regional police and the boss of the city's architecture department, thanks to whom Astrakhan now holds the first place in Russia in the construction of villas for "new masters." They have thousands of dollars in their campaign coffers and are united against Shein.
"Defense" has an extensive grassroots network of activists who are now engaged in the door-to-door campaign. Shein has many supporters among the region's poor. Presently, he leads in the city polls. But his success in the countryside depends on him going from village to village. It takes a lot of gasoline, which is very expensive in Russia.
Our biggest problem now is money. Much of the meager resources of Russian militant labor movement went to build his election campaign. That little that we were able to collect ourselves and what workers' organizations from other cities sent to us paid only for print materials (leaflets and newspapers). What we need now is the air. One minute of radio time costs 200 rubles(about US $8), a minute of TV 600 rubles ($24). We have made radio and TV ads, but there is no money left to put them on the air. Our last hope too raise this money are international labor activists and organizations.
The elections will be held on December 19. We estimate that we need about $2,000 to seriously improve Shein's position. The next two weeks are going to be decisive. We ask our comrades abroad for help.
Svetlana Baiborodova, Co-Chairman of the Labor Union Alliance
"Defense" (Samara Region)
Igor Kuznetsov, Executive Secretary of Siberian Confederation of Labor
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