Rally demanding to curb power tariff growth held in Volgograd

About 1000 people took part in Volgograd in a rally against rising electricity rates. Volgograd is irreversibly losing the status of an industrial centre, leaders of the regional council of trade unions assert. The action was held within the World Trade Union Day of Action "For Decent Work".

According to the Regional Ministry of Fuel, Energy and Tariff Regulation, in the Volgograd Region since July 1, the tariffs for electricity for the population grew up by 14.9%.

According to Vladimir Starikov, the leader of the Volgograd trade unions, the authorities' attempts to freeze tariffs for one-year will not lift the issue of bankruptcy for energy-intensive enterprises, but will indicate another step towards destruction of social peace.

The decision of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FITUR) to hold actions today "For decent work!" was made at the background of worsening economic situation in the country, said Yuri Shamrai, the head of the FITUR in the Southern Federal District (SFD).

The resolution adopted by the rally demands from the authorities to take strict control over pricing in the power industry, fix measures to reduce tariffs, set special tariffs for energy-intensive industries and liberate the energy market from dealers and mediators.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 20 Volgograd hosted a rally with a demand to preserve the Volgograd Aluminium Smelter and prevent its preservation, which was stated in the resolution addressed to the authorities.