The World - News from March 1, 1987

The Soviet trade union movement signaled support for Kremlin leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev by amending its charter to enable multi-candidate elections to take place--at least in theory. Tass news agency said the new charter spoke of the “possibility” of such elections for union posts, apparently giving a legal foundation for them to be held. The amendment was among 200 revisions made as the unions wound up a five-day congress. Last month, Gorbachev called for a multi-candidate system and secret ballots in Communist Party elections.