Participation of Kuzbas miners in Russian railway wars in 1998

One of the most dramatic periods in the protest movement of Kuzbasminers when passing to the market economy is shown. Reasons, goals and results of participation of Kuzbas people in All-Russianprotest action of miners are described. Inability of federal authority to solve essential problems of the majority of population provokedthe All-Russian protest action in May, 1998. It was called the railway war. During May a days-long blockade of railway communicationsbetween Moscow and Vorkuta, central and southern Russian regions, and also in the middle part of the Trans-Siberian Railwaywas conducted. This action became an apogee of workers struggle for their economic rights when passing to the market economy. Minerstook the lead in railway wars. Railway opposition in Kuzbas lasted 27 days and was the most powerful, radical and consistentagainst the background of other protest action sites in the country. Miners demanded resignation of the RF President, nationalization ofcoal-mining industry, stopping of closing enterprises without preliminary establishment of work places, paying off arrears of wages, etc.The majority of region residents supported picketers demands, but not everybody agreed with the protest form, considering it far tooradical. The Trans-Siberian Railway on the territory of Kuzbas was blocked twice - in May and July, because paying off arrears ofwages did not occur in time. The conflict was settled due to cooperation of the federal and regional authorities. Members of the governmentalcommittee promised miners to satisfy the demands on improvement of the social-economical situation in Kuzbas. A lot was donein summer, but August default and replacement of the RF Government did not allow meeting all obligations in time. Participation ofKuzbas miners in All-Russian railway wars in 1998 showed the efficiency of this form of protest. But the main goal, resignation of theRF President B. Yeltsin, was not reached because of the peripheral location of the region and absence of a strong political organization,which could lead miners protest action of all coal-mining regions in the country. The economic price of such efficiency was very high.

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