To be honest, I didn't want to write this material. Not because it’s not interesting. But because I wanted to hope for the common sense of the management of the plant and the industry as a whole. Especially in light of current political events and the prospects for their development.
For those who are not familiar with this enterprise, I will give a short excursion into history. Omsk plant of transport engineering, until 2014 the Design Bureau of transport engineering, appeared in Omsk in 1942 after the evacuation from Leningrad of the Leningrad State Plant No. 174 im. Voroshilov. From 1942 to 1946 the plant produced 6900 T-34 tanks.
Since 1958, the plant has become an independent enterprise. An enterprise that made a significant contribution to the creation of military equipment for the Armed Forces of the USSR and Russia. I think it will be fair to say about the contribution (at least in the past, it is clear that modern samples will not be included in the list yet) of the plant. And not only to understand the size of the enterprise, but also to say thank you to the plant workers for their work.
I will not paint too much, I will just list the products:
self-propelled anti-aircraft gun ZSU-57-2;
self-propelled gun SU-122;
comprehensive modernization of T-54 and T-55 tanks in the process of mass production;
tank bridges MTU-20, MTU-72 and MTU-90;
clearing engineering vehicles IMR-1 and IMR-2;
armored recovery vehicle BREM-1;
landing ferry;
floating craft for T-55, T-62 and T-64 tanks;
undercarriage of T-64, T-72 and T-80 tanks;
comprehensive modernization of the T-80 tank and the transition to the production of the T-80U tank;
command tank T-80UK;
a set of simulators for the T-80U tank.
complex simulator for fire training of commanders and gunners of T-80U (2X62) tanks;
command tank T-80UK;
heavy mechanized bridge TMM-6;
the T-80U tank with the Arena active protection complex;
deep modernization of the T-80U tank for export ("Black Eagle");
heavy armored personnel carrier based on the T-55 tank for export;
armored recovery vehicle BREM-80U based on the T-80U tank;
modernization of the T-55 tank with a new MSA for export;
comprehensive modernization of the T-55 tank with a 125 mm cannon for export;
dynamic driving simulator with synthesizing visual environment system.
However, the most famous now developments of the Omsk plant are the famous TOZs "Buratino" and "Solntsepek".
What could have happened in such a powerful enterprise? Where did the topic of the article come from?
And the following happened. The plant, which today belongs almost entirely to Uralvagonzavod, is on the verge of ruin. Not virtual, but quite tangible. And the reason is trivial. A lack of money.
In the summer of this year, the management of the company announced the forthcoming reduction. The reason was the lack of demand for civilian products. It's a common thing: military production is declining, civilian production is increasing. But there comes a time when the sale of products becomes problematic.
And then I will write a phrase that is unexpected for many. Glory to the trade unions! Yes, you are not mistaken. Namely to the trade unions, or rather the trade union. Interregional Trade Union "Workers Association". It was this trade union that stood up to defend the workers. And there were already 454 such people, almost 58% of the foundry workers of the enterprise.
On July 17, the union announced the problem. He began to prepare documents, involve the media, lawyers. In short, it was not a "PR action". It was preparation for the battle.
And we won! We won in the fiercest struggle. Who knows what the Italian strike is? This is exactly what was done at Omsktransmash. The production workers will understand me. It is difficult to work if you have to follow ALL instructions and laws. Almost impossible.
In addition, at the meetings in the shops, the workers of the plant declared their determination to go all the way. Imagine not bowing your head and leaving, but standing, no matter what. No one expected such enthusiasm and such determination. But it was.
On September 28, the plant's administration issued an order to cancel the reduction. 70 people left "of their own free will." The rest stayed and work. The salary at the enterprise today ranges from 16 to 38 thousand rubles, depending on the duties and profile of the work. The work schedule has also become more convenient.
This would seem to be the end. Fanfare sounds, people rejoice. The enemy is defeated. Justice has triumphed. Even though a fraction of the media in this story was very small, it was.
However, the victory may in reality turn out to be Pyrrhic. As a near-death improvement in a hopelessly ill patient. When our grandfathers defeated Germany and its allies, they did the most important thing. They broke the neck of fascism. But the victory of the labor collective of "Omsktransmash", alas, did not turn the head to the root cause of the events. Financial problems remain.
The company cannot pay off suppliers for work performed and deliveries. Lawsuits to arbitration courts are a continuous stream. And the claims, I must say, are well-grounded. In total, since the beginning of 2015, according to data from the file of arbitration cases, 24 claims have been filed against the Omsk defense enterprise, the total amount of claims for which amounted to almost 44 million rubles.
It is clear that the management is trying to get out of the situation. The arbitration courts are coming. The lawyers are working. Only now it is alarming. A state-owned enterprise, an enterprise that is a monopoly in some types of military products, has no right to be bankrupt. Has no right to be unprofitable. And it seems to me that not only the labor collective, trade unions, the plant's administration, but also the leaders of the country should think about this. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin has been to Omsk several times. And he should know the situation. And it is he who must take the financial situation under his strict control.
In the meantime, I will end with a quote from SuperOmsk, more precisely, from the answer to this portal from the head of Omsktransmash.
“At present, JSC“Omsktransmash”has entered into state contracts for the repair and supply of military products and is provided with stable, uninterrupted operation for 2015-2016. The announced procurement procedures are carried out in compliance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation and will be executed by Omsktransmash JSC in accordance with the terms of the concluded contracts."
