10:20, 17 February 2014

Armenia: DEM.AM activists call opponents of new pension system to strike

On 16 February, in Mashtots Park in Yerevan, members of the initiative group named DEM.AM held a public debate and drafted a plan of action against the country's pension reform. Activists announced their intention to switchover from local actions to broad-scale ones and urged all the opponents of the new pension system to hold a one-day strike.

Ayk Avetisyan, an activist of the initiatives, said in his speech that this method of protesting can be organized through the trade unions. According to his story, every organization should set up working groups by involving active people who will work with the labour collective.

The fight against pension reforms is gaining tremendous momentum; today it occupies a large place in the media, said Artashes Arabajyan, another participant of the event. He welcomed mass protests, but, at the same time, appreciated small-scale local actions, which, in his opinion, are also effective.

"We need to fully support every idea, every protest, both in Yerevan and in the regions of the country," said Arabajyan, adding that "the movement has a huge resource for the fight; it remains to use it properly."

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent