The base wage rate at Rudakovo OJSC is higher than the republic's average in the agricultural production sector

A conference of the work collective of OJSC "Rudakovo" was held to summarize the results of compliance with the collective agreement for 2015-2018 and to discuss amendments and additions. The conference was attended by Vasily Stankevich, Chairman of the Vitebsk District Council of Deputies, Alexander Krasovsky, Chairman of the Vitebsk District Committee of the Agro-Industrial Complex Workers' Union, and Alexander Krasakov, Chairman of the Vitebsk District Trade Union Association.

- The enterprise's collective agreement is, in essence, its social constitution, by which the collective lives and works, - noted Mikhail Pinchuk, Director of "Rudakovo". - After all, it is the basis that regulates multifaceted production life. That is precisely why both the administration and the trade union committee take its fulfillment and continuous improvement seriously. Such a practice allows us to achieve set goals, taking into account both production and the interests of each employee.

A total of 635 employees of the enterprise are covered by the collective agreement, including 633 trade union members (trade union membership coverage is 98 percent).

The enterprise administration, under the constant control of the trade union committee, pays special attention to issues of creating normal working conditions at workplaces, ensuring safe, accident-free operation of all structural divisions of the enterprise, and reducing cases of industrial injuries. Over 180 million rubles were allocated for these purposes in 2015. This made it possible to reduce the injury rate by almost half, however, one fatal accident could not be avoided. This indicates that there is still such a concept as the "human factor." The enterprise administration and the trade union committee have work to do here. Each employee must pay even more attention to checking their knowledge of labor protection issues and safe work methods at their workplace.

The conference noted that the administration of "Rudakovo" fully fulfills the obligations of the collective agreement regarding the payment of financial assistance in cases provided for by the collective agreement, the provision of material support and social protection for the most needy, as well as measures aimed at organizing health improvement and recreation. More than 500 million rubles were spent on these purposes last year.

- This is an indicator of the degree of trust in our organization, and we understand the responsibility that lies with us, – emphasized the chairman of the trade union committee Antonina Pyazenko in her speech. – This time, the trade union committee, having agreed with the enterprise's administration on maintaining the level of social guarantees, managed to include new provisions in the collective agreement that improve the situation of employees.

Thus, fundamentally new provisions have been introduced into the collective agreement: these include the payment of bonuses to large families on Mother's Day, the provision of a day off monthly to foster families with payment of average daily wages, and meals at the expense of the enterprise for all employees during the sowing and harvesting campaigns, regardless of whether they work under a contract or an agreement. And most importantly, what the administration of OJSC "Rudakovo" and the trade union committee can rightfully be proud of is that the base tariff rate for the first category, according to the Regulations on remuneration of employees of OJSC "Rudakovo" adopted by the collective agreement, is higher than the republican average in the agricultural production sector. Also, many additions were made to the collective agreement concerning the improvement of working conditions, the provision of workwear, special footwear, and personal protective equipment.

A separate part of the trade union conference was dedicated to answering questions from enterprise employees, which were addressed by the heads of many structural divisions. Some of them were sent to the chairman of the Council of Deputies. They concerned various aspects of the district's life, social issues, and housing and communal services.

Then, a voting procedure was held for the adoption of the agreement on amendments and additions to the collective agreement, which once again showed that it had been thoroughly developed and agreed upon with the workforce: 60 delegates of the conference unanimously voted for its adoption.

Of course, everyone wants the enterprise to operate stably and generate profit. However, it is difficult to find more reliable investments than in human capital. Therefore, the conference participants expressed confidence that the trade union committee will continue to come up with initiatives to the administration regarding the improvement of the collective agreement and will find understanding in this matter.

Elena Ustinova,

Public Relations Specialist of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus for the Vitebsk Region.