Trolleybus Drivers Rebel: MinskTrans Making Concessions

The drivers’ complaint caused a wave of solidarity.

The drivers of the Minsk trolleybus park collectively complained about the working conditions. MinskTrans company, which oversees the public transport in the capital, answered tut.by they were thinking about the appeal of the drivers.

The complaint of the drivers from one fleet has expanded to become a petition

The collective complaint of the drivers of the trolleybus fleet # 3 about the working conditions went to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and also to the prosecutor's office of the Maskouski district of the capital.

The letter, in which the drivers described their problems, was signed by more than 60 people.

The drivers told about their discontent in the media. They complained about many things: problems with brakes, bald tires, poorly working headlights, wipers. According to them, the driver’s seats are backed up with bricks, they have to work with minimal breaks, sometimes without an elementary opportunity to go to the toilet. Trolleybus drivers are unhappy with the fact that they have removed bonuses - for example, for working during rush hour.

Employees of other fleets, and not only the trolleybus ones, later joined the drivers of the trolleybus fleet # 3. A petition appeared in which the problem was described more widely: drivers of other branches of the Ministry of Transport, including bus fleets, also joined the outrage. This petition has collected 1330 signatures. Numerous photographs were attached to it with examples of the poor technical condition of the vehicles carrying passengers.

On February 20, a meeting with the drivers was held in the trolleybus park # 3.

“There were not only drivers from our trolleybus fleet, our colleagues and others quickly arrived,” one of the workers said. “The hall was crowded, there was nowhere to sit. General Director of MinskTrans, Liavontsy Papionak, came to the meeting. He had claims to the leadership of the trolleybus fleet. It was discussed why the equipment is in such a state, why trolleybuses have bald tires, if there are spare ones in the warehouse of the enterprise.

According to the drivers, after their appeals checks have started in trolleybus fleets.

- They began to buy parts, brought a whole truck of wheels. They also started installing new air bags on the seats.

What is the answer of MinskTrans to the appeal of the drivers of the trolleybus fleet #3?

MinskTrans responded to the request of the editor’s office on the situation with the trolleybus fleet #3, that they analyzed the drivers' appeal, and carried out a “continuous check” on the technical condition of the fleet.

The management of the trolleybus fleet # 3 was tasked “to eliminate the shortcomings in the technical operation of the rolling stock, its execution was taken under special control”, by March 1.

The average age of trolleybuses in park number 3 is 8.7 years. Since April 2017 to January 2019, trolleybus fleet # 3 carried out a refurbishment of 141 trolley buses (66.5% of all), the company notes.

MinskTrans reports that the drivers of trolleybuses, who work on vehicles with mileage over 300 thousand kilometers, are paid extra. In January 2019, the surcharge per driver working on a trolleybus with a mileage from the beginning of operation from 300 to 400 thousand kilometers amounted to 14.8 rubles, from 400 to 500 thousand kilometers - 39.7 rubles, from 500 to 600 thousand kilometers - 79 , 2 rubles, over 600 thousand kilometers - 118.5 rubles.

The Minsk city center of hygiene and epidemiology measured the vibration, noise and microclimate in the trolleybuses. “According to their conclusions, the microclimate parameters at the workplaces of trolleybus drivers remain within the permissible limits,” writes MinskTrans.

As for the fact that the salaries of the drivers are falling, they do not agree with it here. On the contrary, they say, the wages are growing. The average monthly salary of the trolleybus drivers at the fleet #3 in November 2018 was 1 408.1 rubles, and in December 2018 - 1 601.1 rubles, in January 2019 - 1 688.9 rubles, the company reports.

The certification of workplaces with regard to the working conditions by the Ministry of Transport is carried out in accordance with the requirements, and the pensions of employees do not depend on its results, - the letter clarifies, listing in detail the provisions and instructions they base on.

“The company has taken measures to preserve the duration of the holiday due to the decline in the class of working conditions. No violations of the law when changing the conditions of remuneration and certification of workplaces have been revealed,” MinskTrans summed up.

In accordance with the collective agreement, a summed-up calculation of working time per month has been set for the drivers.

The regime of operation of drivers, as well as non-working and working days, are determined by work schedules, days-off can be scheduled on different days of the week. At the same time, the number of days-off each week should not be less than the number of full working weeks of the same month. Under the collective agreement, drivers must have at least eight days off.

“The number of working days and days off in the schedule of drivers is planned taking into account the need for transport services among the population and the legislation of the Republic of Belarus. In accordance with Article 138 of the Labor Code of the Republic of Belarus, during shift work as well as summarized accounting of working time, the minimum duration of a weekly rest can be calculated on average for an accounting period,” writes MinskTrans.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection said that the appeal of the drivers of the trolleybus fleet #3 is still under consideration.

The prosecutor's office of the Maskouski district of Minsk replied to the drivers that the term for consideration of their appeal was prolonged “due to the need to obtain additional information.”