University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, October 4, 1989
Nation/World
7
Soviet legislature snubs Gorbachev on strike ban
The Associated Press
MOSCOW — President Mikhail S. Gorbachev suffered his first major policy defeat in the 4-month-old Soviet legislature yesterday when it rejected his call for an emergency ban on workers' newly won right to strike.
But Gorbachev told lawmakers he was satisfied with a compromise that imposed a selective ban on strikes in critical industries. He said it would "help restore a normal life."
Gorbachev said Monday he wanted a ban on all strikes for the next 15 months to prevent anarchy from
overwhelming the shaky Soviet economy. A wave of strikes, largely over ethnic and political conflicts, cost the country $6.5 billion in July and August.
Strikes were ruthlessly suppressed for decades until Gorbachev began his effort to turn the country from a dictatorship into a country ruled by democracy. In 1986, members began to succeed in pressuring for change by walking off their jobs.
It was the first time the new Supreme Soviet legislature stood up to the government and opted for its own policy, though it had previously rejected several Cabinet nominees.
The legislature's display of independence was particularly significant because it came on a package of emergency measures.
The compromise resolution, adopted by a vote of 364-6, prohibits strikes in the transport, energy, raw materials and metallurgy industries, but only until the legislature passes a detailed law defining the right to strike.
That could be as soon as Monday, the next session of the full legislature. Nearly half the articles in the strike law were approved yesterday.
The more controversial sections, which have yet to face floor debate,
would ban strikes that threaten human life or health, as well as any aimed at overthrow of the government or violation of ethnic equality. It also would ban strikes in the transportation, communications, energy and defense industries, and among civil servants.
The draft also requires arbitration before a strike and allows the Supreme Soviet or its ruling Presidium to halt or delay strikes.
It also says those found responsible for a strike can be fired and fined up to three months' pay to help cover economic damages. It does not define responsibility, leaving open the possibility that managers who fail to resolve labor disputes' could be held as guilty as strike leaders.
All of these points still await debate.
The emergency resolution adopted also permits the country's ministries of interior, defense and transport to guarantee operation of the railroads Azerbaijan and Azerabajan if necessary to get rail traffic moving again to Armenia.
Strikers in Azerbaijan, motivated by ethnic demands, created a virtual economic blockade of Armenia by interfering with shipments on the main rail and road lines to the
neighboring republic. Armenia and Azerbaijan are locked in a conflict over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which has also been hit by lengthy strikes. Trains ship about 80 percent of the goods Armenia receives from elsewhere in the Soviet Union.
In July, thousands of coal miners walked off the job demanding more consumer goods and control over mining operations. They returned to work after Moscow agreed to a package of economic and social improvements that officials say will cost about $3 billion.
Walesa invited to address Congress Democrats request $3.7 billion in aid for Poland, Hungary
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was invited to address a joint meeting of Congress yesterday as Senate and House Democrats announced an effort to help Poland and Hungary make the leap from communism to democracy.
Democratic leaders of both chambers dismissed President Bush's $219 million package of initiatives in Eastern Europe as a "grossly inadequate" response.
They spelled out a legislative program — with a potential total value of more than $3.7 billion — composed of loans from international financial institutions and a five-year U.S. in Polish payments on its U.S. bank debt.
The invitation to Walesa to address
a joint meeting of Congress on Nov. 15 was extended by House Speaker Thomas S. Foley, D-Wash., and Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine.
Walesa, who had already announced plans to visit the United States, is expected to accept.
The Democratic aid package includes $867 million in new U.S. economic and food assistance to Poland and Hungary. It is contemplated that $415 million would be appropriated for use in the 1990 fiscal year, which opened Sunday.
This would include $125 million in immediate food aid.
The plan builds on and expands the private-sector Enterprise Fund that Bush proposed during his visit to Warsaw last summer. It would help finance small-scale projects, encourage joint commercial ventures with Western corporations and work to establish private businesses in the two countries.
The Democratic aid plan includes trade credit insurance, health programs, scholarships and scientific and labor exchanges. It calls for a coordinated aid effort by the Overseas Private Investment Corp., the Peace Corps, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the Labor Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.
It also requests $1 billion in loans to Poland from the Treasury Department's Exchange Stabilization Fund.
Another element of the proposal would instruct U.S. representatives to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to seek $1.4 billion in bridge loans for Poland and Hungary.
World Briefs
MARINES IN BAD TASTE: A member of the Senate Armed Services Committee said yesterday that he was outraged to find Marine recruits at Parris Island, S.C., using the slogan "kill, rape, pillage, burn" during basic training.
Eight of the men in the photograph held four hand-painted signs bearing pictures and slogans, which one of the recruits said were
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a heavily decorated, retired Navy captain and ex-prisoner of war, said, "The Marines ought to be ashamed." He has asked the com-mittee of the Marine Corps to investigate.
McCain's reaction stemmed from a photograph sent to him by the parents of a man who graduated in September from the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island.
used as signs for the men to march behind during training.
One showed a naked woman. Another had a skull and cross-bones with the words "kill, rape, pillage, burn."
THATCHER DELAYS VISIT:
Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher of Great Britain said she would not visit South Africa until Black leader Nelson Mandela was freed, a South African newspaper reported yesterday.
South African President F W. de Klerk has called for an end to discrimination and says he wants to negotiate a new constitution that would bring Blacks into the national government within five years.
Mrs. Thatcher said the South African government "certainly does not have five years to get negotiations with Black leaders
going," Business Day reported.
Mandela, 71, is the head of the outlawed African National Congress guerrilla movement and is the country's best known Black leader.
SQUETTS AIRLIFT SUPPLIES:
Moscow is supporting Afghanistan's communist government with the largest military airlift in Soviet history, Western diplomatic sources said yesterday.
They said more than 3,800 supply flights landed in Kabul between Feb. 15, when the Red Army withdrew after nine years of involvement in the Afghan war, and the beginning of September.
The diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, estimated Soviet military aid to Afghanistan during the first half of 1989 was worth more than $1.5 billion.
Celebrating the 78th National Day
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Time: October 8, 1989, 3:00PMP Place: Ballroom, Kansas Union Reception after performance Admission Free.
All KU faculty and students are welcome. Sponsored by Chinese Student Association
Crisis intervention
Stress management
STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
35 million Americans suffer illnesses no one talks about. Prevalent attitudes lead to misunderstanding that prevent four out of five from seeking treatment. Let's build understanding. Let's talk about mental illness. For more information call the Mental Health Clinic at Watkins Health Center...864-9580.
YOU COULD SAVE A LIFE! American Heart CPR Certification Call Health Education 864-9570 for fall schedule of classes.
Call for more information:
Health Center 864-9500
Health Education 864-9570
When you think of health care...
Think of Wetkins first!
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH EDUCATION
MISS KU-LAWRENCE SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT INFORMATIONAL MEETING
Phi Kappa Psi House Sunday Oct. 8th
7:30-8:30 p.m.
For APPLICATIONS and information please contact
THE PHI PSI HOUSE 843-2655
or THE DANCE GALLERY 841-0215
Tea & Cookies Provided/Casual Dress
Miss KU-LAWRENCE is an Official
Preliminary to MISS KANSAS & MISS AMERICA
Scholarship Pageants.
Hope to see you there!
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