Staff Reductions at TMK Enterprises: What the Sides Are Saying
Employees at factories owned by the Pipe Metallurgical Company have spoken out about anticipated job cuts.
Employees of the Pipe Metallurgical Company (TMK) have reported mass layoffs. According to them, about 500 people are planned to be laid off in January and February 2026.
One worker said: «Major layoffs are occurring at large plants of the TMK group in Yekaterinburg, Polevskoy, Nizhnevartovsk, Buzuluk, and Noyabrsk. Previously, company management forced employees to take several days off per month at their own expense. Employees lost salary but took the days. Now, at the beginning of 2026, management has taken drastic measures — layoffs have begun. By the end of January and throughout February, 500 people will be laid off. The company explains its actions by the lack of orders and prolonged downtime of production lines.»
In response to a query, the TMK press service stated that this information does not correspond to reality. «For the sites located in the mentioned locations, fluctuating workload is characteristic, which depends on contracts for servicing pipe products. Many employees of service divisions work on a shift basis, which implies high staff turnover. At the same time, with a decrease in workload, including after the expiration of service contracts, the employer offers workers transfer to other sites and locations, including with a change of location to retain qualified personnel. In doing so, the employer covers all expenses related to acquiring new professions and business trips,» the company explained.
This is not the first such appeal from TMK workers. At the end of 2025, several employees complained about being forced to resign, transfer to reduced rates, and reduction of bonuses. At that time, company representatives did not comment.
The Pipe Metallurgical Company produces steel pipes, pipeline systems, and other products for the oil and gas, energy, and chemical industries. It includes enterprises in Pervouralsk, Polevskoy, Kamensk-Uralsky, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, and other cities. According to data, in 2024, the revenue of PJSC TMK reached 431.4 billion rubles (approximately $4.8 billion at current rates), and net profit — 17.5 billion rubles (approximately $194 million at current rates).
A year ago, employees of the Seversky Pipe Plant, part of TMK, also reported large-scale layoffs, but then too the company denied this information.
The end of 2025 was a difficult period for workers at many Ural enterprises. Among the problems were delays in wages and transition to a reduced workweek. For example, at the Klyuchevskoy Ferroalloy Plant, there were regular payment delays, and Uralvagonzavod transferred part of its staff to a four-day workweek.
