Industrial giants like BelAZ employ entire families. It starts with the parents, continues with their sons and daughters, and after some time the grandchildren grow up and come to work at the plant. It is according to this formula that the well-known Mikheichik dynasty has been formed at the enterprise. Their total work experience already exceeds 330 years. On the eve of Labor Day we went to the city of Zhodino to meet representatives of this famous family.
A family contract
Anatoly Mikheichik and his wife live 10 kilometers from Zhodino in the village of Zabrodenye, Smolevichi District. This locality became a small homeland for five sons who followed in their father’s footsteps and grew up smart and hardworking.
“The beginning of our dynasty was laid in 1963 – the year of the space flight of the first female cosmonaut, Valentina Tereshkova. It was then that our father, Anatoly Petrovich [Mikheichik], who was only 25 years old, came to work as a driver in the transport shop,” says Viktor, the middle of Anatoly Mikheichik’s five sons, who himself long headed that very transport shop where his father began his factory career and where all the brothers later worked.
Wanting to be closer to his wife and children, the head of the large family decided to move to the local collective farm where he worked as a driver for many years. However, he always remembers and is proud that his career began at one of the industrial giants of our country.
“We had a large household: we always kept two or three cows, pigs, sheep, and poultry,” says the elder Mikheichik. “The collective farm allocated a good land plot, this is why we bought a horse to cultivate it, plant potatoes, and bring firewood. Later, we purchased a tractor, which took over the heaviest work in the field.”
Watching their parents work from early morning until late evening, the boys tried to help them with everything. After finishing school, each rushed to decide on a future profession. Today three of the brothers – Piotr, Sergei, and Aleksandr – work as heavy truck drivers at BelAZ, delivering components and parts, aluminum, and other materials needed to make mining haul trucks from all over the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
The eldest son, Anatoly, worked as a fitter-assembler at Mechanical Assembly Shop No.1 before the army. After leaving the army, the young man returned to his native plant – to the transport shop, where, like his father, he got behind the wheel of an automobile. His wife worked as a dispatcher in one of the enterprise’s structural divisions for over 30 years. Now both spouses are retired.
Anatoly followed in his father’s footsteps not only in work. Together with his wife, they chose the village of Zabrodenye to live in where they built a large and cozy house. By the way, almost all of his brothers have acquired summer cottages there. They come every weekend with their families.
“I always wanted to be closer to my parents, who raised us and gave us an education. Now they also help with their grandchildren,” smiles the middle son, Viktor. In his time, after the eighth grade he entered Zhodino Vocational School No.149, after which he got a job at BelAZ as a repair fitter. After the army he did not look for a new job. He returned to the plant. Over time he was offered a security job as a guard-driver. He agreed without thinking too much about it.
“After serving in security for 17 years, I transferred to become a workshop manager, and then headed the transport shop. I sent my brothers, among others, on business trips to different countries,” Viktor Anatolyevich [Mikheichik] says with a smile.
Now he works as deputy head of the Dudinka recreation center of BelAZ. His wife Natalya also works at the plant: she is a specialist in the social security department. By the way, the wife of another son, Piotr, also works at the enterprise as an operator.
The labor gene
Today the plant employs the third generation of the Mikheichik dynasty – three grandchildren of Anatoly Petrovich [Mikheichik]. The younger generation found jobs in the field of accounting and finance. Anastasia and Yekaterina are accountants, and Kirill is a leading economist in the finance department.
“After graduating from the Belarusian State University of Economics and Law, I chose BelAZ. And it was not an accident,” notes Kirill Mikheichik. “Young people are definitely interested in it. Our plant is one of the most modern and high-tech enterprises in the world in the field of mechanical engineering. Unique engineering developments and large-scale modernization of production have ensured its technological superiority in the global market. The plant produces some of the largest mining haul trucks, including those with the carrying capacity of 450 tonnes. The modernization of workshops makes it possible to increase production volumes, which confirms the status of a modern and rapidly growing enterprise. We are introducing robotic systems and modern machine tools. The enterprise is focused on producing ‘smart’ machinery. Haul trucks with electromechanical transmission have been developed. Work is underway to create robotic unmanned mining haul trucks.”
“Our grandparents have a total of 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren already,” Yekaterina says with pride, citing family statistics.
“Parents, grandmother, and grandfather have been telling us about the plant, about the workshops, and the products they make since we were kids. And we also saw how happily they go to work. They like what they do. Therefore, our choice was obvious! We are confident that the large Mikheichik dynasty, which is already over 330 years old, will continue for many more years,” says Anastasia.
And right there and then the three of them begin to enthusiastically talk about how they love to get together in Zabrodenye. Kirill admitted that he loves heartfelt gatherings with his grandfather, Anatoly Petrovich [Mikheichik]. He is also sure that he has never tasted anything tastier than the crispbread pastry (khvorost that his grandmother, Maria Nikolayevna Mikheichik, bakes. On the other hand, Yekaterina and Anastasia fondly remember the holidays they spend with the large family. And one of them is Labor Day.
“Belarusians are a hardworking nation. When we work, we give it our all. High-quality products, including BelAZ mining equipment, are a brand of our country. In order to keep Belarus prosperous and peaceful, everyone should approach their work and the fulfillment of assigned tasks responsibly. Our president has spoken about this more than once,” concludes Viktor Anatolyevich Mikheichik. “Labor Day is not just a day off, but also a wonderful opportunity to thank people for their work for the benefit and development of our blue-eyed land.”
BelAZ provides its employees with an attractive social security package, which includes support for families, including large families, medical care, and opportunities for employees to relax.
“You can have a good rest and receive treatment at the same time at our Dudinka recreation center, which is located on the banks of the Berezina River in a forest area. Over there our employees can have the opportunity to do this both while working and while on vacation,” says Viktor Mikheichik.
By Tamara MARKINA,
7 Dnei newspaper
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