UNITED WITH KAZAN'S CRANE OPERATORS

     Since July 23, tower crane drivers in Kazan, united by a union, have opposed safety violations, slave labor conditions, and decent wages. All this time we closely watched the events taking place around these workers, we were faced with many problems within the construction sphere, and the tasks facing the working class as a whole were revealed. Today it is already possible to look back and see what they have managed, what they have been able to achieve, and what remains to be done.

     Everyone who participated in the preparation of the action remembers how, before the execution and the presentation of the demands, the crane operators were seriously afraid of the reaction of the employers. For a person of labor, one of the most serious losses can be considered removal from work. After all, this is not only the place where they earn, many crane operators have connected their lives with this profession, sincerely love their job and proudly say - I am a crane operator. It was the fears of layoffs that became what did not allow a stronger rally. Today we can say that these fears in general did not materialize. And this needs to be taken into account by fellow crane operators for work within the union

     Isolated facts of dismissal still exist. So, for example, one of the leaders of the Kazan crane operator's trade union - Yuri Sharipov, during the campaign was without an employment contract in his hands. I did not have time to apply for a job, as the company’s office is located in Perm, but at the same time I began to assume my duties. Nevertheless, the employer refused to conclude an employment contract with Yuri. Now he believes that he can hardly get a job in Kazan. But here a very controversial point arises, because the employee who has started to perform duties is considered according to Art. 61 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation concluded an employment contract. In fact, in the future this should become the subject of litigation, possibly judicial. We will follow the development of the situation. Another activist of the trade union, Igor Muravyov, is forced by the employer to sign a document whose contents are not disclosed to him. Both parties understand that there are no legal grounds for dismissal, and therefore even such primitive methods are used to get rid of the activist. About five more crane operators, most of whom were women, at the time of the sharp confrontation decided to quit on their own. Not wanting to put up with what is happening at construction sites, they went on to change their profession. As we see, the mass dismissal of union activists did not happen. And although it was not without losses, practice has shown that capitalists are not ready to give up their workers. Comrades crane operators, it turns out that you have nothing to be fired for, it’s not so easy to replace you.

     Threats of employers sounded no less serious that losses from downtime of cranes will fall on crane operators. As it turned out, in the future, seeing the absurdity of such statements, no one made any claims to the crane operators. After all, the cranes were not the fault of the workers, they only refused to work with gross violations of existing norms and rules, with violations of labor laws, and this is the problem of the capitalist who owns the means of production, that is, the owner of the crane. In this case, the crane operators did what everyone should do at their workplace, especially if you have such a complex and dangerous mechanism as a tower crane in your hands. And you need to do this every day, regardless of the action.

     Now let's try to evaluate what they got, what Kazan crane operators were able to achieve with their struggle. To do this, we’ll look at this question more broadly than dry numbers can show us.

     Attracting attention to the problems of crane operators caused a revival of regulatory and supervisory authorities. A wave of inspections swept through the construction sites. Although in many respects they were of a formal nature, in some cases the owners of the cranes were forced to eliminate gross violations of safety and labor protection, to put in order the documentation. Hastily eliminated the problems of the mechanisms of the cranes, affecting the safety of work. Inspections concerned violations in the field of labor relations with employees. Many crane operators have finally received their employment contracts. And in some contracts there was a clause on insurance.

     There is evidence of a number of companies passing a special assessment of working conditions. For crane operators, the SOUT was raised to class 3.1. that is, the work of the tower crane operator was considered harmful and increasing the risk of damage to health. Employers agreed with a normal working day of 8 hours, and engaging in overtime work is now possible only on a voluntary basis. There are companies that have announced an increase in hourly rates for crane drivers and increased overtime pay. What's happening? The companies began to compete among themselves for crane operators! And although it was not possible to achieve payment of 500 rubles. in an hour, it should be noted that the process has begun. And in the minds of the capitalists is already the thought that the rates will have to be raised, and the conditions will improve
b. You, comrade crane operators, do not understand this yet, but they already live with it. Now the main thing for you is not to depreciate your work. And overtime is the depreciation of labor, the depreciation of your achievements. It is important for each of you to understand this and communicate to your comrades. And in the future, you should be faced with the task of fighting for a 6-hour working day while maintaining the level of wages. Your working conditions suggest this even within the framework of current legislation.

       And, perhaps, the most important thing to note is that these scattered on different construction sites, closed in separate cabins, could unite and come up with general demands. No matter how further the fate of these people, this union develops, they, having overcome their fear and threats of employers, have already tasted the experience of collective struggle. They saw how strong the workers united by a common idea become. They realized that the only way they can make them reckon with their interests. Here is what one of the union activists says:

- With those who supported the action, who dared “show their teeth”, employers speak in a very different way. We are now not silent cogs in the large and complex mechanism of the modern construction business. We have changed the attitude towards crane operators in general. Even those who did not support us, feel a change in relations with the "owners".

     Unexpected was the wave of solidarity raised by crane operators from other regions, which was then picked up by workers across the country. With the words of support were the same workers, employees, representatives of the intelligentsia and students. Comrade crane operators, they looked at you, worried about you, working people from all corners of our big country were proud of you! Looking at you, workers in other cities began to unite. You, having taken your first step in the collective struggle, have done this for all of us. Now your experience is our experience. This is very important, this is your merit, your victory.

Yusupov I.Sh.