Evolution To A Political Party
When the strike campaign failed to produce the expected results, OSTK activists turned their attention to upcoming elections. Using institutional resources and popularity acquired during the strike campaign, OSTK activists worked to get sympathizers elected to office, both on local and republican levels.
OSTK candidates fared well in the February 25 elections. In eastern Moldova, OSTK supporters took control of most of the major city and regional (rayon) soviets. In Tiraspol, Igor Smirnov, later the president of the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, was able to handily defeat the Communist Party candidate for the position of chairman of the city Soviet. In the Supreme Soviet of the Moldovan SSR, however, the OSTK candidates were too few to affect legislation.
The power of the OSTK peaked in late 1989 and early 1990 when it controlled the republic’s industrial enterprises. Once OSTK sympathizers were able to take control of governmental institutions, these proved to be much more expedient tools for achieving their goals.
The OSTK continues in its role as a “social organization”.
Read more about this topic: United Work Collective Council
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