Russian labour union workers demand improved social welfare

MOSCOW: Trade unions and political parties called out their followers across Russia on Sunday for May Day demonstrations, pegging their demands for improved social welfare to the traditional labour holiday. Police in the Russian capital - already in a heightened state of security due to next week’s Victory Day celebrations - closed off many streets in the centre, using dogs and metal detectors to check the thousands of demonstrators who gathered. Communists and other opposition parties rallied under pictures of Lenin and Stalin along with traditional red-and-white, hammer-and-sickle banners, reading “Rise, Save Russia!” and “Organs have Replaced Brains!” and marched down Tverskaya Street, one of Russia’ main boulevards, to the square in front of the Bolshoi Theatre. ap

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