OREANDA-NEWS. February 20, 2009. Meetings of workers were held in all the shops. All department and trade union committee leaders of the Works took part in these meetings.

The finance and economic crisis that has broken out in all the branches of national economy in the fourth quarter of last year had a negative effect on the metallurgical branch too. It affected the social and economic welfare of the metallurgists’ and miners’ family members. Reduction of production volume became the reason for reduction of profits, as a result, application of such unpopular measures as introduction of a reduced work day, leaves without payment, which in its turn caused decrease of wages.

In these conditions the role of the trade union is becoming influential. Its importance in labour collectives is increasing. Even representatives of the authorities and business underline that.

At the meetings of workers leaders of departments summarized the results of work for the year, stated the positive results, which were achieved last year, explained the current situation and appealed to the labour collectives to work consistently and with confidence.

Naturally, the meetings were very active. First of all, Zaporizhstal workers were interested in questions connected with the work of the enterprise in the conditions of the crisis, preservation of work places and wages.

The metallurgists discussed not only their production tasks but also realization of the social policy, fulfillment of the collective agreement measures.

In the blast furnace shop it was suggested to resume rendering of non recurrent financial help to those workers who resign from the Works on their own free will or retire. The workers of cold-rolling shop No.1 and the Railway Transport Department spoke about the necessity of reducing utility rates for workers who live in hostels. In the Quality Control Department and several other shops the young workers were interested in the perspectives of increasing the sum of the interest free loan to improve household facilities.

Sintering plant workers, rollers and railway workers have asked to speed up the solution of the question regarding transfer of houses of a mini family type to municipal property of the city. Due to the reduction of financing the workers wanted to know how this will affect the summer health improvement campaign.

Declarations of Zaporizhstal workers show that the problems regarding quality of work clothes and transportation of workers still remain of interest.

Remarks and proposals declared during the meetings of workers, have been studied, systemized and forwarded to the management of the Works and chairmen of trade union committees.

Vladimir MAKSAK, Deputy Chairman of the Trade Union Committee of the Works.