And the impact of this action is that it feeds back into Russia. It brings you the knowledge that you are not alone in your struggle. Hundreds of other unions in far distant places are with you. It exposes on the international stage those responsible for the unacceptable consequences of human suffering of the mismanagement of the economy. Third, we are pressing the IMF and World Bank and the other major foreign financiers of the Russian reform programme to insist that loans are conditional on workers contracts of employment being met.
Contracts are the glue that holds the market system together.
The IMF and the World Bank's support is aimed at building a market system in Russia. They must know if the most fundamental of market contracts, work for pay, is not being honoured. The information you provide to us on wages is a vital indicator of whether reforms are really taking root, and we will pass it on to the international financial institutions with the expectation that they will use their considerable influence to press the government and others to pay up. We have also established a partnership with your unions that will force the international financial institutions to make sure that you have a say in the design and implementation of the many programmes of structural adjustment they are funding. Fourth, we have here in Russia a continuing programme of trade union cooperation and support.