On February 10, works at three dry docks at Naval Repair Yard no.10 in Polyarny (Murmansk County) were halted. Demanding pay-out of salaries 8 months overdue, the workers blocked a repaired nuclear submarine scheduled to go on mission.
On February 11 the workers received additional support from the local trade union, which presented an ultimatum towards the administration of the Yard, demanding 4 billion roubles for repair works carried out on the submarine. Otherwise, the sub was not to leave the yard.
The action brought results: On February 20 the 12 billion roubles wage debt was paid to the yard by the Navy. According to the press-center of the Northern Fleet, the situation at the plant has stabilised.
A similar action was carried through at the same yard in December 1995. On that occasion too, a repaired nuclear submarine was blocked from leaving the yard until overdue salaries was paid out.
Press-center of the Northern Fleet, chief officer Yaroslav Kal'yanov, February 1997.
"Polyarnaya Pravda", 14.02.97.
Nilsen, T., Kudrik, I., Nikitin, A., The Russian Northern Fleet - sources to radioactive contamination, Bellona report no.2:96.