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That was in 1985.
We had our diplomas.

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They placed one of us in
each department.

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I was a welder. I had to complete
my tasks alone.

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And I did so.

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But the problem appeared at the
end of the month. How much was I earning?

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My wage was the same as a trainee’s.

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So I went to my supervisor
and asked:

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I’m a skilled worker now, I work on my own.
Why am I on this wage? Wage level 4.

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My supervisor said:
I don’t know, it’s not up to me.

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Mosambique and the GDR government
would have to answer that.

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So I sat myself down
and wrote a letter

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to the Ministry for
Labour and Wages.

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Why are we employed as skilled workers
and yet we on wage level 4?

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Then a big delegation came
to Hoyerswerda, to our accommodation.

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A big delegation came
from Berlin.

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They asked me: why did you write
this letter to the Ministry?

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I said, because the company director
couldn’t find a solution.

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Then they said: we will take it
and look into the matter further.

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I never received an answer.

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Only later did I see on my paycheck that
they had put me on wage level 5 and 6.