1988. május (109-137. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
í, ttHVNMUAN 0eT9©IÍL>^ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (from abroad 441-430 2126) 132/1988 (E) 24-th May, 1988 Scientific Workers Democratic Union Holds a Press Conference On Monday May 23rd at 10 am the SWDU - Scientific Workers Democratic Union - held a press conference in Budapest in the Educational Research Institute’s council chamber. About 4-0 foreign joumalists - American, English, French and Germán - took part and asked questions. This great interest is explained by the fact that the SWDU is the first independent unión, both from state and Party, in Hungary fór 4-0 years, it was alsó only formed a few days ago, on May 14-th, Karoly Grósz had declared nőt long before this that he did nőt vish to see independent unions in Hungary, and János Kadar condemned the "disrupters of unity" in his speech to the Party Conference. The press, rádió and television were quick to report that a Scientific Workers Union vili be established vithin the framework of the National Council of Unions, the title of which differs from the SWDU as the word democratic has been left out. The new unión must proceed along a difficult path and its survival vili depend on the establish- ment of név political trends. In the press conference the joumalists vere primarily interested in the unión’s opinion of the changes vithin the Party leadership. The spokespeople expressed their hope that the resolves revealed in the Party conference vould make the operation of the név unión, vhose formation is legal, possible. One of the spokespeople - Csaba Öry - said that the név unión vas a prototype vhich vould be an example to other professions. Of its 1028 registered members 70% are from Budapest bút many név provinciái unions vere formed recently. The subscription sum has still nőt been decided bút they vili start negotiations vith the old unión about the division of its assets. The SWDU does nőt vant to politicise, it vants to be a grass roots unión yithout bureaucracy and hierachy. Its most urgent tasks are to ensure secure employ- ment, to maintain the reál value of vages and to make sure scientific vork can con-> tinue undeterred. / 7 Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
