Strike at oil transport company in Kazakhstan

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 27 Jul 2021 by Alex Teddy

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On July 18 a strike started in Zhanozen, Kazakhstan. The company that strikers work for is Kazpromtekh. The company provides transport to a small oil company called Ozenmunaigaz. The strike involves street cleaners, driver and loaders.One small company in Zhanozen gave in to the strikers. This is almost unprecedented in Kazakhstan. This move has encouraged other strikers.Zhanozen was the scene of a strike in 2011 that ended in at least 16 unarmed demonstrators being shot dead by the police.It is very difficult to register a labor union in Kazakhstan. The labor unions that exist are docile. Strikes are legal in theory but in practice the police treat them as unauthorized protests. There is growing frustration with economic stagnation and even decline. President Tokayev has not improved conditions for his people. Nor does he command the respect that his predecessor did. No one thinks that Tokayev is going to be overthrown. The strikers' demands do not seem to be political as such. It is perhaps surprising that the strikes have lasted 9 days already. If these strikes spread, then he will have a serious problem on his hands. The workers are calling for a 50% pay rise and improved conditions. The strikers claim that their salaries have not been raised in 10 years years. In effect, their salaries are therefore far lower than they were 10 years ago. These are similar to the demands made the last time there was a strike. There have been strikes at 10 other companies in July 2021.