Unions against the manager

Norilsk is preparing for mayoral elections

There are less than two weeks left before the election of the mayor of Norilsk, the second largest city in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and the patrimony of one of Russia’s largest metallurgical holdings, Norilsk Nickel. On April 20, residents of the “pearl of the Arctic” will have to make their choice. However, most local political scientists no longer doubt that a second round cannot be avoided.

Of the seven contenders for the post of mayor, only the chairman of the Norilsk Nickel trade union federation, Valery Melnikov, and the chairman of the city council, Sergei Shmakov, can count on victory. The rest were either openly making money or accumulating political capital. However, local observers claim that the young deputy of the Norilsk City Council, Vitaly Tolstov, sincerely believed that he could change something in this city. However, the lack of serious funding forced the “romantic of politics” to face the truth, and last Monday he withdrew his candidacy.

Of the two real contenders, Valery Melnikov has the best chance so far. A couple of months ago, he became famous throughout the “big” Norilsk when he, along with a dozen other trade union functionaries, went on a multi-day hunger strike. Valery Melnikov demanded an increase in wages for Norilsk Nickel workers, an increase in the amount of vacation and information about the salaries of the main managers of the holding. After almost two weeks of hunger strike, only one condition of the trade union leader was fulfilled - General Director of NN Mikhail Prokhorov said that he is a very wealthy person and therefore receives one monthly minimum wage (minimum wage) as a monthly monetary remuneration - it is simply impossible to do less labor legislation. Norilsk Nickel workers, i.e. the majority of residents of Norilsk did not openly support Valery Melnikov at that time, but he still earned certain political dividends. The position of Sergei Shmakov, who is supported by Norilsk Nickel, looks worse. In two years of leading the city council, he did nothing special.

However, a number of experts believe that the population is so tired of the endless election intrigues that voter turnout at the elections may be very low. This, in turn, equalizes the chances of the less popular, but predictable Shmakov, and the more famous, but who has gained a reputation as a brawler, Melnikov.

Alexander KLIMOVICH, Krasnoyarsk