Today I read Lenin’s article on factory fines, which resonated with me, so I decided to start a post to record my work situation. When I usually consider the capitalist’s demand that workers must not be absent without leave, I don’t find it unusual, but Lenin’s comparison of this with the restricted conditions of criminals makes it very clear that the capitalist’s attitude towards workers is essentially the same as a violent state’s attitude towards criminals, viewing workers entirely as slaves subject to the capitalist’s forceful control.
First, let me talk about recent developments. As the New Year approaches, the capitalists arranged for holidays but cunningly did not specify the exact duration. During the holiday, naturally, there was no income. This is actually unreasonable; if a worker does not go to work for personal reasons, the capitalist can naturally refuse to pay wages based on the principle of equivalent exchange. However, since the capitalist has signed a contract to hire the worker and has bought out the worker’s labor for the day, and since the shutdown or holiday is not at the worker’s will but because the capitalist cannot use the worker’s labor due to operational issues, the capitalist should pay the worker the corresponding wages.
Additionally, I asked in the company group whether the wages could be paid before the New Year, and he classically agreed happily, saying “No problem on my side,” passing the issue to his second-in-command, who is always scheming against him. The second-in-command then said wages could definitely be paid before the New Year, but then pretended to disappear. Although some colleagues also expressed a desire to receive their wages early, it seemed completely useless. Because there is so little struggle, the wage payments are getting later and later, now defaulting from the 20th of next month to the early morning of the 1st of the following month.
Yes, it feels like the capitalist exploitation in the middle repair sector has reached a level akin to sweatshops or even prisons. Workers can only maintain a life revolving around dormitories, factories, and canteens, enduring great suffering on the assembly line, working 12 hours with only 2 days off per month, sometimes not even taking a break. Salaries are normally paid on the 15th. Workers nominally have freedom, but in reality, it is just a freedom of being exploited and oppressed. When it comes to demanding wages and fighting for their rights, where is the freedom to speak of?
This morning I was called by my supervisor to work in the afternoon, but currently it is just basic operation. At this moment, the supervisor bought explosives to bribe department employees, adhering to the idea of reclaiming remaining value, and ate some. Afterwards, I managed to get some things back from the company.
However, another person with the same position as me did not come, I don’t know what the situation is, suspecting that variable capital has been cut.
I forgot to mention that yesterday I didn’t really want to help the supervisor clean the equipment, so I sat in the office. When I saw the other person busy with something at the end of the experiment, I felt it wouldn’t be good to just walk away, so I helped a bit. Well, today there were more experiments, so my rebellious nature kicked in and I worked hard. However, the supervisor reminded me that just doing the normal work was fine, which was a bit hard to handle, sigh.
Also, I looked at some new jobs, but I don’t know if there will be a chance to go or enter a factory or something, so I need to consider.
What type of work is the original poster doing
Textile testing
Today, the supervisor said that the police station might come to check the laboratory safety again, and the middle repair relies on this to make money, indeed. If you don’t obediently pay, you’ll get trouble from these small capitalists. Yesterday, I forgot to mention that the hydrochloric acid evaporation made my throat a bit uncomfortable.
Will this job often involve contact with harmful substances?
Indeed, treating samples with various chemical reagents
Are there no protective measures? Have you tried to fight or minimize contact with toxic detection?
There is indeed a gas mask, but I’ve always found it troublesome and didn’t wear it much, mainly because I am a high-quality cow and horse, so I was used more 
Yesterday, I studied Lenin’s article on factory fines. It mentioned that factory owners would evade legal restrictions on fines by renaming them as bonuses or graded wages. Thinking about it now, various bonuses and performance incentives are also emerging endlessly; unawarded bonuses are essentially deducted fines. The full attendance bonus is like this, and graded wages violate the principle of equal pay for equal work, paying workers with lower ability a lower grade wage, which is essentially the fine deducted from the difference between the highest wage and the lower wage.
It also mentioned that the Russian Empire used fines as a fund for fines, used for various worker subsidies, but did not specify how these funds were used, so workers were unaware of relevant laws and regulations. Moreover, they made things difficult for workers, restricting subsidy claims and requiring proof, similar to social insurance in China, where workers don’t know where the money goes, but when they need to use it, reimbursement becomes very difficult.
Today, a reagent ran out. I barely finished the experiment in the morning, and there was nothing to do in the afternoon. But it’s just piling up the experiments that can’t be done until later. Although the supervisor asked me to report the situation, I was too lazy to say anything. I’ve mentioned it several times before the New Year. Why bother?
Today the samples are quite numerous, but due to higher efficiency, I can still find two or three hours each day to relax. However, the overall efficiency is still low; I just browse messages and lose track of time. Planning is always weak, so this still needs improvement.
In developed areas with many struggles, the salary for the previous month might be paid on the 15th of the next month, while in some underdeveloped places, the salary for the previous month is already paid by the end of the next month.
Is it the kind of thing where you work hard during regular hours? Will it push others away, and eventually push yourself out as well?
Uh uh, although I can also do it slowly, it affects my phone watching, so I want to finish it all at once, which is a bit contradictory. This position normally only has two people, it’s a small production, but currently I don’t know why the other person hasn’t come yet.
The local area might no longer be working at your company.
I learned that he seems to be unemployed at home. On Saturday, I took a day off and asked the supervisor to let him come over. He also said that just one day isn’t good for calculating wages, which is a bit awkward.
How have you been recently with work? Has anything happened that made you feel conflicted? How has the workload been lately? Is the dog capitalist still making you test all the toxic reagents?