MTP Workers Get Pay By Blocking Traffic In Minsk Street :: Charter'97 :: News

Today more than 800 workers of the Minsk Tractor Plant have blocked the way for traffic in the Dolgobrodskaya Street on the opposite side of the plant’s main entrance. The reason is a two-week delay of payment. First they were promised to receive money on September 13-14, but the workers have not received anything yet. Then money was promised on the morning of September 28. According to the collective contract the administration cannot put off the payment for more than 10 days. So the workers made up their mind to protest. As said by the protesters, such delays became frequent in the last several months. A few police officers tried to induce the workers to break up, but their attempts failed. Administration has understood that the measures should be taken. The representatives of the administration came out with persuasions to stop the rally. Even the deputy chairman of the city executive committee Erokhov arrived. But the workers began to disperse only after they were told that the money would be given today. “Weekend is coming, we need money to feed children. How long can we wait? They should stop taking us for dirt! When we blocked the street, the bosses started the fuss and found money. Where was the money before? They even cannot say us the reason of delay…”, – said resentful workers by cash-desks. The joy of the victory was fleeting as they understand that the problem is solved only for one month. Nobody knows what will happen next month…