Seamen On Strike In Russia's Far East

Aerial view of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky

PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY, Russia -- Seamen in the Russian Far East port of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky have gone on strike, RFE/RL's Russian Service reports.

The seamen have refused for one week to unload coal from a cargo ship, demanding that their overdue salaries be paid first.

Port officials told RFE/RL that the seamen aboard the cargo ship are not from the peninsula and the owner of the ship is a resident of Primorye.

Irina Orlova, of the Kamchatka Seamen and Fishermen Trade Unions, told RFE/RL that her organization will talk to the Primorye unions to help the striking sailors resolve the situation.