Overhaul facility walks out over wages

Published: 5/11/2000

During early April, Samara based Aviakor experienced a one week strike by workers in the their overhaul facility looking for increases in wages and improvements in working conditions. The dispute initially involved a few dozen workers and then spread throughout the overhaul plant where 13 Tu-154s are currently being overhauled from Gazpromavia, Pulkovo, Yamal Airlines, Dagestan Airlines, Krasair and two aircraft from Omsk Airlines, in addition to one aircraft for an unnamed Chinese carrier. The strike, which was a wildcat action not involving the plant's official unions, mirrored a dispute that in 1996, according to local newspaper, Samarskoye Obozreniye, brought workers out onto the streets and was only resolved with the intervention of a deputy of the city's Duma, Petr Petrov, who negotiated a settlement between the two sides. The strilke this time has however, not effected other sections of the plant and those working on the preparation of new production lines for the An-140 and the An-70 continued to work, as have their colleagues manufacturing machinery and furniture. The reason for the strike appears to have primarily been wages, which have not been adjusted for inflation since 1994 according to reports. There were also demands for improvement in working conditions through the improvement of the fabric of the buildings in the plant and the provision of new uniforms. According to the plant's management a wage rise was accepted by all sections of the factory, bar the main assembly area, but the strike was put on hold pending the outcome of trade union election at the end of April. Sources within the plant remain highly skeptical of the plant's ability to deliver on the improved offer of wages. In the meantime the plant has been working weekend shift to catch up on the lost production, which is critical to the future of the plant although it is unclear how much production has been lost.

Article ID: 1753