OREANDA-NEWS. On December 05, 2007 Vladimir Yakunin, president of Russian Railways, and Nikolai Nikifor, the chairman of the trade union Rosprofzhel, have signed a collective agreement for 2008-2010, reported the press-centre of Russian Railways.

“The company has always regarded, and still regards, financing our social package not as charity, but as a vital need necessary for our entry to international markets”, said Vladimir Yakunin.

By the end of the year, Russian Railways expects to have spent about 64 billion roubles on implementing the collective agreement (excluding subsidiaries). The average cost of the Company’s social package per worker per annum will be about 30,000 roubles, with 5,900 roubles going on non-working pensioners.