Hard Times for Russian Factory Workers
...ters also generally sleep on their workbenches. The worst violations of hygienic regulations were those seen in most of the flax-spinning mills where linen is produced…. Although in Western Europe all the dust producing carding and combing machines have long been covered and well ventilated, only one Russian linen mill where such a machine was securely covered was seen. The degree of unpredictability in the determination of fines, and thus also in the determination of the works wages, was unbelievably extreme in some factories. For instance, there were factories where there is a ten-ruble forfeit for leaving the factory before the expiration of one’s contract. But as applied this covers much more than voluntary breach of contract on the worker’s part. This fine is exacted from every worker who for any reason has to leave the factory. Cases are known of persons having to pay this fine three times. Moreover, fines are levied for so many causes that falling under a severe fine is a constant possibility for each worker. For example, workers who for any reason came into the office in a group, instead of singly, would be fined one ruble. After a second offense, the transgressors would be dismissed leaving behind, of course, the ten-ruble fine for breach of contract. In other factories workers were still treated as se...