The Blue-Collar Worker
| In 1990 Andre worked as a plumber in a factory 100 miles south of Moscow. He enjoyed an adequate salary, a decent flat, free medical benefits, and low-cost childcare. In 1991 his factory was privatized. As is very common in the new Russia, the managers stole the company's assets while claiming they couldn't pay workers' wages. | Workers went on strike for six months in 1999 and forced out the corrupt management. Today Andre is part of a three-worker committee that must sign off on all company invoices as a method of preventing management fraud. |