Some Miners’ Wages Paid; Strike Goes On

Some of the coal miners on strike in Russia’s Far East started receiving back pay but pressed on with their more than 3-week-old protest, Itar-Tass news agency said. About 10,000 miners are on strike in a region of 2.2 million people. Miners unions are due to meet Tuesday to consider a nationwide stoppage. President Boris N. Yeltsin has launched an inquiry into the crisis, and the government has started sending cash to ease the miners’ plight. Tass said 1,800 miners had been given their March salaries and $95 for April. Some miners have not been paid since January and have vowed to continue the strike until they receive all the money they are owed. Yeltsin promised to settle wage debts during his reelection campaign, which ended successfully July 3.