Russian dockers' leader beaten and stabbed - an urgent appeal for help E action

[Omaha Steve]

RUSSIAN DOCKERS' LEADER BEATEN AND STABBED - AN URGENT APPEAL FOR HELP

Four days ago, on 7 June, Mikhail Chesalin, the chairman of the local
Dockers Union in Kaliningrad, Russia, was savagely stabbed and beaten
outside the union office. An unknown number of assailants attacked
Chesalin when he got out of his car, stabbing him numerous times in the
spine, and beating him severely about the head. He was left lying
face-down, unconscious, in a pool of blood. Chesalin's colleagues
believe that the attack was orchestrated by Vladimir Kalinichenko, the
General Director of the Sea Commercial Port where the dockworkers' union
is currently running an organizing campaign.

When we talk about "urgent action appeals" this is exactly the sort of
thing that we mean. It is our responsibility as trade unionists to
rally to the support of our brothers and sisters in Kaliningrad and to
demand that attacks on trade unionists cease and workers' rights be
respected. Please send your message of protest today:

http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=265

And most important -- pass this message on, mobilize members of your
unions, let's send thousands of messages to Russia today.

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