The beginning of the 'mushroom odyssey'
Svetlana's university diploma says 'Russian and Ukrainian philology.' I think there is no need to explain what 'fabulous' incomes such a profession promises today. And if you also work not for a 'cool' company, but at the department of one of Kyiv's universities... That is why a year ago we sat exactly like this at a café table, and green tea was growing cold in our cups. Then Sveta shared her plans with me: to say goodbye to her alma mater for a year and go to Ireland... to pick champignons! Why Ireland? Why champignons? That idea seemed simply fantastic to me, but Sveta was surprisingly calm and confident. And – she turned out to be right.
'When planning such a trip, the most important thing is to find a serious, trustworthy firm that will help you find a job abroad,' Svetlana shares her secrets. 'I searched for a long time. Finally, in February of last year, I quite by chance found an organization that inspired my trust. It is a state structure, the Kyiv Youth Labor Center (KYLC). They constantly organize such programs specifically for young people (under 30). I came to the KYLC office, filled out a questionnaire, and had an interview. I was warned that there might be a competition. Honestly, I was a bit worried: my English is not great. And I was going abroad for the first time. But fortunately, they took me.'
In March, Sveta attended training seminars where program participants were prepared for the trip. 'We were told about the future work, shown videos, and had interviews with psychologists. There was a short English course, mainly studying work terminology and basic conversational skills. We were also taken to Vasylkiv to a champignon farm to see the process of growing and picking mushrooms. We met with guys who had participated in such programs: we could ask them anything that interested us.' And the waiting began.
Svetlana had to wait a long time, almost a year. Having submitted documents in February, only in September did she learn the exact departure date. True, she was to work not in Ireland, but in England. And so on December 3, Sveta and four other Ukrainian girls and two boys were already being received at Manchester airport.
'As all program participants say, the average waiting period is six months to a year. This is because each program participant goes to a clearly defined workplace. In addition, our work is absolutely legal, which requires the processing of many documents.
We had to work in the small town of Selby, not far from York – the main city of Yorkshire. It is a large state farm for growing champignons. As soon as we arrived, we were shown where we would live. These are ordinary two-story residential houses for six people. We lived two per room. There is a bathtub, a washbasin (by the way, with their classic two taps – without a mixer). But a shower was not present in all houses. Ours, for example, did not have one. We complained to the management, and they installed a shower for us. The kitchen has everything – two microwaves, a refrigerator, a washing machine, an electric kettle, an iron. We were given new bed linen – inexpensive but very good quality. We settled in, rested, looked around. And the next day we were taken to the champignon farm.'
Working days
'The work turned out to be very interesting. The guys work as drivers, clean greenhouses, lay special soil, carry out treatment, etc. And the girls mainly work as 'pickers' – picking mushrooms. Mushrooms are selected by 'size' – the diameter of the cap. Every morning the supervisor gives a task: which greenhouse and what size mushrooms to cut. Your task is to walk through a long four-to-five-tier section of mushrooms. You cut mushrooms with a given cap diameter and put them into a special box, a 'fanetka'.
They gave us special clothing – gowns, caps, gloves, and told and showed us what and how to do. They even gave us special rulers for measuring caps! True, later we got used to it and cut mushrooms by eye.
The most expensive are mushrooms 40-45 mm in size, very clean, without any damage or disease. They are beautifully placed in a large box weighing about three kilograms, and it costs about six pounds.
And one of our girls got a job in the packhouse. There, mushrooms are weighed, sorted, and packed. The work is hourly; you do everything you're told.
The working day started at 7 a.m. and ended at about 5-6 p.m. Sometimes it could end at lunchtime, depending on the volume of work. It was great that a special bus took us to and from work. By the way, once a week this minivan took us to town for shopping. During the day there are three breaks: two of 15 minutes and one of 30 minutes. During the 'big' break you can have lunch. In a specially designated room there is an electric kettle and a microwave: you can make yourself tea or coffee, heat up sandwiches brought from home.
Our work was paid standardly – 4.5 pounds per hour. Taxes were deducted from this amount, so the real income was 3.5 pounds per hour. The money was transferred weekly to our bank account, and we receive a payslip where everything is carefully itemized. A bonus is given for exceeding the norm. You need to work quickly, efficiently, attentively, without talking or smoke breaks. Otherwise, you won't meet the norm, and they will be dissatisfied with your work.
At first, of course, it was difficult. The English are real workaholics and work continuously. But we coped with the norm, everything seemed to be going well. And then the unexpected happened...'
Working at 'Ken and Barbie's'
Suddenly Sveta began to feel unwell in the greenhouse: she found it hard to breathe, she felt dizzy. As soon as she reported this, she was immediately removed from work. The fact is that mushroom greenhouses have high humidity and specific fumes. Sometimes this causes allergies in workers.
"Oh, I was scared! First, it was unclear what was wrong with me. Second, I didn't know what to do now? It turned out I couldn't work, but I had gone to England on credit! And then the managers of KMTS, who supervised Ukrainian boys and girls in England, came to the rescue. The center is responsible for the worker it sent and helps solve problems: if there is a valid reason and no complaints, they will offer another job. True, you can count on such help only once, no more."
So Sveta ended up on another farm – in the city of Lancaster. This, unlike her first place of work, was a private farm, and from this followed its own pros and cons. The farm belonged to an elderly married couple – Ken and Barbara. Three greenhouses and all workers were under vigilant control.
"Private owners are more strict about discipline. Our Ken and Barbie would drive around the houses in the evenings – they were interested in what their workers were doing even in their free time. In addition, private owners have a desire to save. For example, we lived four to a room, which is not entirely legal, but... If someone is found who agrees to do your job for less pay, preference will be given to him. True, our interests were protected by the contract. But Poles worked with us on the farm. There were especially many of them from May 2004, when the path to the West opened for Poland. So, some of them were ready to use various tricks to 'knock out' a job for their friends or relatives."
Sveta was transferred to work in the packhouse. She felt pretty good, and her work went well. She began to study the packing machines and look closely at all operations. Such diligence was rewarded: Sveta was transferred to the office. A Ukrainian girl, Vika, worked there as an assistant manager. Her contract was ending, and Sveta was to replace her. On the one hand, it looked like a promotion – Sveta was involved in printing out waybills for the shipment of goods on the computer, supervised the loading, wrote orders, etc. But on the other hand... they didn't raise her pay!
"To be honest, I wasn't very glad: great responsibility, not everything was working out, and the manager was dissatisfied with me. Besides, earlier Vika and I worked together, and when she left, no one was given to help. Besides, they don't take anyone back to the packhouse! Over time, though, I started to do everything wonderfully. The owners were pleased with my work. They even asked about my plans for the next year.
There was another, not very pleasant nuance on this farm. Although initiative and diligence are welcomed, this is not reflected in pay at all. And it is hard to demand anything. As I already said, Poles worked alongside us. I suspect they worked illegally, because the owners paid them in cash (by the way, on a state farm this is completely impossible!). Many of them are ready to do anything to 'knock out' a job for their relatives or acquaintances. They fought especially desperately for the position of supervisor, where pay is higher. So, some Poles agree to work for less pay just to get that position, thereby depriving other workers of the opportunity to insist on a legal pay increase. I don't know, maybe this only happens on this farm.
On the other hand, I don't regret having worked as a supervisor – I am going to go to England for another year, and the experience I gained will be very useful to me."
Time passed. English became almost native for Sveta, and work became routine. New friends appeared, and she wanted to see the country. After all, England is not only mushrooms and quiet evenings in front of the TV!
To be continued.