That was in 1985. We had our diplomas.
They placed one of us in each department.
I was a welder. I had to complete my tasks alone.
And I did so.
But the problem appeared at the end of the month. How much was I earning?
My wage was the same as a trainee’s.
So I went to my supervisor and asked:
I’m a skilled worker now, I work on my own. Why am I on this wage? Wage level 4.
My supervisor said: I don’t know, it’s not up to me.
Mosambique and the GDR government would have to answer that.
So I sat myself down and wrote a letter
to the Ministry for Labour and Wages.
Why are we employed as skilled workers and yet we on wage level 4?
Then a big delegation came to Hoyerswerda, to our accommodation.
A big delegation came from Berlin.
They asked me: why did you write this letter to the Ministry?
I said, because the company director couldn’t find a solution.
Then they said: we will take it and look into the matter further.
I never received an answer.
Only later did I see on my paycheck that they had put me on wage level 5 and 6.