Two skilled women, Maryna Rodikova and Iryna Nedavnia, have been working for a long time in one of the service shops at Metinvest's Integrated Iron Ore in Kryvyi Rih, welding various types of materials. Do their speed and quality match those of their male colleagues? Do they hold authority in a predominantly male team? Read on to find out.
On the shop floor, clad in company workwear and a welder's face shield, a worker is fully focused on the task, jets of sparks flying from the machine. It would seem like business as usual – until you notice the person's petite build. When the face shield is lifted, a woman's smiling face is revealed. It's Iryna Nedavnia, nicknamed "Thumbelina" by her co-workers. She’s too shy to talk about herself – but her flawless work and her colleagues speak volumes.
"I can say with full confidence that Iryna is a master of her craft. On the job, she can easily give the men a run for their money. Everything she touches is, literally, on fire. She works quickly, efficiently, and reliably, meeting all the key criteria used to evaluate welding work – weld dimensions, continuity, mechanical strength, as well as the chemical composition and structural components of the weld metal. And she still manages to look charming while working in the tough conditions of the repair shop," says Andrii ZHYRNYI, acting head of section No. 1 of the Service Shop at Inhulets Iron Ore.
Iryna isn’t the only woman in the section. She works alongside Maryna Rodikova, who has been an electric and gas welder at the plant for over seven years. Maryna trained at the Inhulets Vocational Lyceum. She joined the welding group almost by accident – at the suggestion of a friend. Choosing this profession turned out to be a life-changing decision. Though she’s tried other jobs, she feels most confident with a welding machine in her hands.
"Do you know how satisfying it is to see your perfect weld – same height and width all the way across? When it’s tight, fits well, and the metal fuses just right? It’s like sewing, but on metal. We each have our own style and approach. Some people like more voltage, so they add more amps; others prefer less. For some reason, the guys always make bigger welds – we do the opposite. It's both quicker and more delicate that way," says Maryna RODIKOVA enthusiastically.
Maryna also shares that she loves doing something new. And these days, during the war, there's no shortage of such tasks in the shop. Until 2022, the section where Iryna and Maryna work was mainly engaged in repairing equipment of the ore beneficiation plants. Today, they’re mastering new types of work and producing different items that are in high demand.
Their families are the steady anchors that keep them afloat. Iryna has a husband and a son, while Maryna is happily married, with a son, a daughter, and a four-year-old granddaughter. They both see their profession as demanding – but not one meant only for men.
In addition to electric and gas welders, thirteen other women work in section No. 1 of the plant's Service Shop. Their roles may be more traditional, but they’re just as important – crane operators and duty fitters. In total, the section includes almost forty employees. Right now, the men on the team are busy preparing to congratulate their female colleagues on the spring holiday.
"We’ll definitely put together something nice and meaningful for our lovely colleagues. And of course, there will be a tea party with sweets to brighten their day. I personally make sure of it," says Andrii ZHYRNYI.
