How "optimized" art history

About how the reform of science under the leadership of the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Vladimir Medinsky at the Russian Institute of History of Arts (St. Petersburg), a candidate of art history, former senior researcher at the sector of relevant problems of the modern art culture of this institute , Igor Vddovenko, was taking place. He was dismissed from RII on October 16, 2013.

Stage 1. "Optimization" of labor rights

The first thing that was done by the new administration was a change in the operating mode. Traditionally, there were two “present” days at the institute - Monday and Wednesday, the rest (“unprofitable”) were assigned to work in libraries, archives, museums, visits to exhibitions, theaters, concerts, etc. -those. the activities necessary for writing scientific works, which are actually the main product “produced” by researchers. The new work schedule required the presence of an employee “on the territory of the employer” daily from 9 to 18, which, as it is not difficult to guess, almost completely destroyed the possibility of working normally.

The employees who did not fulfill this order (and, of course, not all, but especially objectionable new directorate) were caught by the administration on non -conservation days. Acts were drawn up on them, reprimands were announced and some (the most “noisy and fundamental”) were fired on the basis of these acts. Here we must immediately make a reservation that at the moment all the dismissed employees of the institute filed a law on the new administration, because According to the advice of the RIIA trade union, the order introducing this new routine violated several articles of the current labor legislation at once.

In parallel with the introduction of a new mode of work, the administration was also invited to sign an addition to individual labor contracts, containing, in particular, a clause on the actual ban on any form of complication. Needless to say that almost all researchers with the main place of work of RIII work somewhere else: they teach, cooperate with various cultural organizations, funds, work in the jury of festivals, etc.

All 100 years of the institution’s existence, it was this bunch of scientific, academic activity with practical work, which allows to test, “implement” the results of scientific research, was considered particularly valuable, and suddenly it is prohibited. Working “somewhere else” employees are faced with a choice: either leave that additional work, or move on part-time here, in RIII.

The pressure measures provided by the new administration on those who refused to sign this addition of the employees, obviously, went beyond normal labor relations: they were caught on “unreasonable” days, they were refused to sign business trips, leave at their own expense, etc.

Moreover, a special order was issued, according to which this addition that did not sign this was fired from the institute before November 1, which, according to lawyers, is a gross violation of the Labor Code, because An employment contract is a voluntary consent of the parties.

Any attempts by the team and trade union of the Institute to resolve the situation by the administration boycotted (moreover, again often with violations of labor legislation). So, for example, the administration evaded negotiations with the trade union to conclude a new collective agreement, banned the holding of trade union meetings on the territory of the institute and in general any collections of the team, did not respond to the requests of the trade union committee, etc.

Stage 2. "Optimization" of scientific work

Now as for institutional activities. Prior to the arrival of the new administration, two tips operated at the institute: scientific and dissertation. At the moment, they both do not work. Moreover, they are not closed, but simply do not work. The activities of the Scientific Council were suspended by the administration on the basis that (supposedly) several years ago "the procedure was violated during the vote." In July, when this was announced, the suspension of the Council was accompanied by the promises “to fix everything as soon as possible, the maximum of the end of October”, but October was already completed, and the work of the Council was not resumed.

The dissertation council does not work due to the dismissal of some of its members (including the chairman), and again nothing has been done. The planned defense defense of dissertations is torn, plans for defense cannot be formed, graduate students adopted this summer cannot approve topics, etc.

The absence of tips actually raises the question of the legitimacy of the very further existence of the institute, because (not to mention graduate students) any work performed at the institute, any new topic should be held by the Council.

Stage 3. "Optimization" of personnel

And finally, with regard to the "personnel". Initially, during the appointment of the new director, representatives of the Ministry of Culture (in particular, deputy minister of Mr. Ivli-Yev) stated that “the ministry has no complaints about the institute’s team,” that we are only talking about optimizing activities, that “no one has plans to disperse the institute and“ please ”everyone. At the same time, certain fears regarding upcoming abbreviations still remained. They were connected primarily with what means of the Ministry of Culture implemented the President’s decree on increasing wages.

Let me remind you: the 597th Decree of the President of May 7, 2012 “On measures for the implementation of state social policy” provides for the growth of salaries to employees of the budget sphere, including scientists. By 2017, the salary of researchers should be 200% of the average in the region, in 2013 - 128%.

And, according to the ministry, this increase in salaries should not occur due to the allocation of additional financing, but by redistributing the wage fund, i.e. The method of banal reduction in the number of employees. Moreover, the Ministry shifts responsibility for these reductions to directors of institutions subordinate to it. And here it should be noted that it is almost impossible to simply take and dismiss without any reason to fulfill the plan (i.e. complies with the conditions of the current employment contract), according to the law.

A little arithmetic: at the beginning of the year, there were 184 rates at the institute, that for this kind of institutions there are not many at all (for comparison -in the Moscow Institute, art history for the same moment were 344). The first increase in the salary and, accordingly, the first reduction passed under the previous director. Tatyana Klyavina, honestly trying to solve the problem set by the ministry, persuaded people to move on half -time, retirement pensioners, etc.

As a result, by the end of April 2013, out of 184 bets, only 112 remained, of which 82 were actually on researchers (of which 17 doctors of sciences and 44 candidates). At the same time, the salary growth was not able to reach 100% of the regional. When on May 6, the ministry was ordered to bring the salary to 128% (and again without additional financing), Klyavina refused to reduce another 30%, citing the fact that the further reduction of researchers would simply kill the institute. It will be necessary to close entire sectors, eliminate entire directions. Anyway, what will happen to and the institute, in which a little more than 50 people will remain scientists? T. Klyavin was fired on June 18, 2013 [1], and the new administration does not ask similar questions.

To begin with, as already mentioned, the working conditions were changed (probably in the hope that everyone will scatter). And to some extent, this had its fruits, some researchers, unable to withstand the pressing by the administration, wrote a statement of care “of their own free will”. The administrative part (deputy director for scientific work, head of graduate student, secretary of the director, head of the office, head of the personnel department) was almost completely replaced.

The next step was a series of dismissal for “absenteeism”. And finally (at the moment) the last one: a week ago, the administration announced a reduction in twenty employees "in connection with the optimization of the staffing schedule." Moreover, it is clear that “optimization of the staffing” (suggesting, as we understand, the performance of the same work, but by a smaller number of employees) in this case is simply a word. Naturally, none of the remaining researchers for their work dismissed (their plan, which, is actually, state procurement) will be able to fulfill.

1. About the dismissal T. Klyavina

See http://www.rosbalt.ru/piter/2013/06/19/1142445.html and http://izvestia.ru/news/552284