YELTSIN ORDERS GOVERNMENT TO NEGOTIATE WITH UNIONS.

President Boris Yeltsin has ordered his government to open negotiations with Russia’s main trade union organization, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FITU), to persuade it to call off the nationwide strike set for March 27. (Rossiiskie vesti, March 6) FITU has called the strike in protest against wage arrears. There is no hope that overdue wages can be paid by then, but there are rumors that FITU chairman Mikhail Shmakov might be bought off by an invitation to join the government as labor minister.

Woman Dies During Power Cutoff.