Just after the strike at the automobile giant, that took place 1 August, the plant’s administration issued an order according to which 170 people got reprimand; and most of workers were stripped of bonuses and 13th month salary.

Then three workers were fired. Anton Vechkurin, Alexei Vinogradov and Valery Machihin got the walking papers on 9, 10 and 15 August respectively. Their small past faults became the formal reason for dismissal. Vinogradov, for example got his one for failing to report at work once in October last year. It will be reminded that real reason for dismissal was the workers’ demand that the promised pay rise to be done.

During the strike, Nikolai Karagin, chairman of the plant’s official Trade Union, assured the correspondent of the Novaya that there would be no punitive sanctions and that the Union would assist in that. Well, did the Union really “assist”!

In accordance with dismissal procedure, the plant’s management must apply to the Trade Union where a defaulter belongs to. Trade Union’s responsibility is to stand up for the worker. But when the notice of dismissal of Alexei Vinogradov came to the Union it was approved by immediate and unanimous voting, Anton Vechkurin says.

Anatoly Ivanov, deputy of state duma, resident of the city of Tolyatti (where the events are taking place), and also former Head of alternative Trade Union named Unity, says that he is doing his best to help workers. “During the strike I was present at the plant. I had talks with the plant’s management about calling off the strike. Ivan Mironov, Head of the Security Department of the plant promised that in case of early calling off the strike (it was planned that the strike would last one whole working day – I.G.) no sanctions would follow it. The strike was stopped but he didn’t keep his promise”.

Ivanov says that then he applied to Viktor Baunov, vice-president of Autovaz, responsible for personnel and public relations. But he said he couldn’t stop this maltreatment of workers allegedly because the assembly shop managers (that’s the shop where workers initiated the strike) asked “appointed people from Moscow” not to interfere in the situation and that they would arrange everything by themselves.

Ivanos says he doesn’t understand why the top managers don’t want to interfere. “They are not just advisors. They are the bosses and it’s enough that they give an order to their subordinates”.

Pyotr Zolotarev, present leader of Unity, is determined to continue struggle till the end. On Saturday he took part in the meeting held in Moscow on Gorbaty Most (one of Moscow bridges). “We will continue to defend the fired workers. We are ready for litigations whatever long it will take because the truth is on our side”, he says.