Just one month after the last threats to go on strike, the employees at Leningrad nuclear power plant have delivered another ultimatum to their superiors: A salary raise by Tuesday or the strike will start. The lowest monthly salary for the plant’s operators is 733 rubles (some $27). An even bigger problem is that the salaries are not paid on regularly basis.

The conflict regarding payment between the workers of the nuclear power plant and its management contains nothing new. Back in 1996, the first strike ever at a Russian nuclear power plant was arranged at Leningrad NPP when a number of employees occupied one of the four reactor halls. Since then, strikes and strike threats have followed the plant’s cash-stripped economy as a shadow.

The St. Petersburg Times writes today that the plant’s earnings dropped in the forth quarter of 1999, compared to those in the third quarter. Another problem is that the clients of Leningrad nuclear power plant can not pay their debts in cash. As much as 90 percent of the debts is fixed by various kinds of barter agreements – bills of exchange or shares.

Representatives of the trade union refer to their employee contracts for the year 2000 where it is stated that they should have a 22 percent increase in their monthly salaries. Plant officials say they might be able to give a maximum of 10 percent, which in fact is no more than the recent days’ devaluation of the Russian ruble.

Should the parties reach no agreement by Tuesday, the union says most of the 6,100 employees will go on strike. A minimum number of staff will be on call at the plant for safety reasons.

Leningrad nuclear power plant is located around 80 kilometres outside of St. Petersburg. It operates four RBMK-1000 reactors.