 As head economist of one Tiraspol factory, he was derided as "head extremist" by coworkers before he was fired.His employer reinstated Ilaşcu after he protested with the city prosecutor, but he continued to clash with coworkers and local authorities as the city's branch chairman of the Popular Front of Moldova.In both Transnistria and western Moldova, the winter of 1989–1990 was strained.