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Authorities in central Russia claimed a breakthrough Monday in talks with coal miners who have been blocking the trans-Siberian railway for two weeks as they demand payment of past wages.
“Most miners at five out of seven striking mines now say they are ready to unblock the railway,” said a spokesman for the regional governor.
About 180 people are sitting on the tracks, blocking cargo and passenger trains near the city of Chelyabinsk in the southern Urals.
Progress was reported Friday when a majority of the strike organizers voted to end the economically damaging blockade after an agreement with authorities on a schedule of repayments.
But diehards rallied support, and the blockade soon resumed.
