9 August, 2007Strikers undeterred by company harassment and intimidation.
RUSSIA: 300 workers of Togliatti auto-giant's assembly workshops laid down tools on August 1. Their main demand -- to raise wages up to 25,000 rubles ($1,000USD).
The demand to raise wages at AvtoVAZ were put forward some time ago, such a promise had been made by the pro-presidential party "United Russia" in its regional elections' campaign. After the electoral victory the politicians forgot about the promise, but not workers.
AvtoVAZ is the largest automobile company in Russia which employs over 110,000 people and impacts the life of Togliatti, a city with a population of 700,000 people. The monthly wages at the plant, 7,000-10,000 rubles ($275- $393USD), is low even by generally modest Russian standards. Two years ago the plant was acquired by a state-owned company Rosoboronexport. Many in the city hoped that nationalization would bring about improvements. However, things have proved otherwise.
Rosoboronexport plans to attract a strategic investor. It is possible that this will be Magna, which already has an agreement to form a joint venture with AvtoVAZ. The current management of the company is actively increasing its "attractiveness" to foreign investors -- getting rid of the social infrastructure, refusing to adjust wages, conducting scheduled layoffs and trying to push trade unionists out of the plant.
A pre-strike situation in the assembly workshops of AvtoVAZ has evolved sporadically, the workers have elected an independent strike committee. There are two unions acting in the plant -- AutoSelhozMash (Automobile and Farm Machinery Workers' Union -AFW), an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation, and Edinstvo, which has applied for affiliation to IMF. The AFW did not support the strike, arguing that discussions with the employer were under way and the workers' protests were politically inspired.
Management together with police and company security started to mount pressure on the strike committee. One of the committee's members, Anton Vechkunin, was held under arrest for three days. The strike committee turned for help to chairman of Edinstvo, Petr Zolotarev. Edinstvo has provided necessary legal support to the strike action, and has helped to establish and keep the dialogue going with the company's management.
The demand to raise wages at AvtoVAZ were put forward some time ago, such a promise had been made by the pro-presidential party "United Russia" in its regional elections' campaign. After the electoral victory the politicians forgot about the promise, but not workers.
AvtoVAZ is the largest automobile company in Russia which employs over 110,000 people and impacts the life of Togliatti, a city with a population of 700,000 people. The monthly wages at the plant, 7,000-10,000 rubles ($275- $393USD), is low even by generally modest Russian standards. Two years ago the plant was acquired by a state-owned company Rosoboronexport. Many in the city hoped that nationalization would bring about improvements. However, things have proved otherwise.
Rosoboronexport plans to attract a strategic investor. It is possible that this will be Magna, which already has an agreement to form a joint venture with AvtoVAZ. The current management of the company is actively increasing its "attractiveness" to foreign investors -- getting rid of the social infrastructure, refusing to adjust wages, conducting scheduled layoffs and trying to push trade unionists out of the plant.
A pre-strike situation in the assembly workshops of AvtoVAZ has evolved sporadically, the workers have elected an independent strike committee. There are two unions acting in the plant -- AutoSelhozMash (Automobile and Farm Machinery Workers' Union -AFW), an affiliate of the International Metalworkers' Federation, and Edinstvo, which has applied for affiliation to IMF. The AFW did not support the strike, arguing that discussions with the employer were under way and the workers' protests were politically inspired.
Management together with police and company security started to mount pressure on the strike committee. One of the committee's members, Anton Vechkunin, was held under arrest for three days. The strike committee turned for help to chairman of Edinstvo, Petr Zolotarev. Edinstvo has provided necessary legal support to the strike action, and has helped to establish and keep the dialogue going with the company's management.