Volunteer Complains City Hall Hasn't Paid Him
«The city cannot pay me a salary for the work I»ve done. I always get my salary with a delay!« declared volunteer Anton Vasilyev, whom all of Yakutia knows as Dobrynya. Residents were surprised that Anton, who previously cleaned streets of garbage without pay and never complained, now suddenly wants money. A correspondent from 14.RU found out how this happened.
«They offered me extra work. It»s the same streets I«ve been cleaning of garbage myself every day for many years. But this time you clean these places and get a salary for it. It was very good. I agreed and have now been working for the fifth month. But since November, they haven»t paid the money,« Anton explained.
According to him, a certain individual entrepreneur hired him, who had a contract with the city hall last year. For the extra work, he promised to pay 50 thousand rubles a month (about $550 at current rates). But he constantly delays the salary, explaining that the city hall hasn«t paid him since November. In December, before the New Year, he paid Anton from his own money, and that was it.
By agreement with this entrepreneur, Dobrynya cleans 20 streets in three districts: Central, Gubinsky, and Oktyabrsky, divided into specific areas. Today, Anton cleaned the streets of Oyunsky, Kalandarishvili, Petrovsky, Lermontov, and Turgenev before lunch. He always carries garbage bags, a shovel, and a crowbar. His employer provided him with no equipment. After cleaning these streets, Anton goes about his own business—cleaning other places without pay.
The city hall explained to the 14.RU correspondent that the contractor hired Anton Vasilyev of his own accord. They did not disclose the contract amount, nor did they deny the delay in payments. The city hall«s press service explained this by saying the city budget, like the republican budget, experienced difficulties at the end of the year, but gradually all debts will be settled.
Anton Vasilyev himself has been a volunteer for 23 years. He cleans city streets of garbage and clears bus stops. People constantly turn to him for help: he does charity work, helping large families. Sometimes large companies provide sponsorship, and then Anton buys clothes and food for those in need. Anton does not want to work officially because then he would have no time left for good deeds.
