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International Forum for Democratic StudiesJune 1, 2006; Washington, D.C.Fallen Icon:The Worker in Postcommunist Russia: 

International Forum for Democratic Studies June 1, 2006; Washington, D.C. Fallen Icon: The Worker in Postcommunist Russia Elena Gerasimova Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, Spring 2006 Director, Center for Social and Labor Rights (CSLR) www.trudprava.ru

Overview: 

Overview The Role of Workers in Soviet Russia Trade Unions in Soviet and Post-Soviet Russia The Worker in Russia Protecting Workers’ Rights Labor Discrimination in Russia Migrant Workers Labor rights and democracy

The Soviet Worker: 

The Soviet Worker Idealization of the image of the worker Propaganda of work in Soviet culture: cinema, painting, sculpture, songs, etc. “Work: A Mark of Honor, Valor and Glory”

In Practice:: 

In Practice: Work was not just a right but also an obligation (criminal liability for "parasitism") Forced labor was widely used No mechanisms to protect rights Real living standards were very low Independent collective actions & strikes were strictly forbidden (except for May 1 & November 7) However… Workers’ situation was stable Indirect benefits (free education, houses, medical services, etc.)

Changes to the Privileged Status of Workers: 

Changes to the Privileged Status of Workers Late 1980s–Early 1990s: Massive global changes in the political, economic & social spheres, collapse of the Soviet Union, & of all state institutions A large number of privatized enterprises quickly appeared New private employers had no knowledge of and no wish to fulfill workers’ rights. No state control of labor relations and no liability for violations of workers’ rights Workers faced many insoluble problems (closing and bankruptcies of enterprises, low wages, nonpayment of wages, collapse of the system of social insurance, etc.) As a result, living standards of workers declined significantly The average worker was one of the biggest losers during the democratic transition.

Trade Unions in the USSR: 

Trade Unions in the USSR No “unions” in the accepted Western sense of the word 98% of workforce declared to be members of All-Union Central Committee of Trade Unions (AUCCTU) All employees within an industry (management, lawyers, doctors, janitors, electricians, etc.) belonged to one union Trade unions performed management functions: Administration of social insurance and pension funds Provision of housing, goods and services Organizing vacation, holidays, cultural events, gifts, etc. Trade unions were controlled by the Communist Party, including at the enterprise level (“Trade unions are the school of communism”—Lenin)

1989 Onward: New Labor Movement Emerges: 

1989 Onward: New Labor Movement Emerges

Labor Movement in the Post-Soviet Period: 

Labor Movement in the Post-Soviet Period 1989–95: New, independent “free” trade unions emerge 1990: Independent Miners’ Trade Union formed All-Russian Trade Union of Locomotive Engineers, Federation of Air Traffic Controllers, Pilot Trade Unions, etc. Independent regional associations 1995: All-Russian Confederation of Trade Unions (VKT) and Confederation of Labor of Russia (КТR) created They remain small in terms of their overall number and in terms of the percentage of workers they represent.

Successors of the Soviet Trade Union: 

Successors of the Soviet Trade Union 1990: AUCCTU liquidates itself; General Confederation of Trade Unions (VKP) created 1990: Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR) created—a successor of AUCCTU FNPR: automatically retains membership continues its control over the distribution of state social benefits until 1993 inherits vast property within Russia

Slide17: 

Over 30 million members, down from 39 million in 2000, constituting 96% of all trade union members in Russia FNPR has not undergone any reform to date Many affiliated unions exist in name only; some have tried to re-establish themselves and their work, and resume contact with their members Branch unions often criticize FNPR FNPR owns vast property & doesn’t depend on membership dues Public has very low trust in trade unions: According to a poll by FOM (Public Opinion Foundation): 62% of Russians believe trade unions don’t protect workers’ rights; 21% consider trade unions protect workers rights; 17% don’t have an opinion Member of the ICFTU The Situation Today: FNPR

Slide18: 

FNPR considers itself a social partner of the government, not in opposition Operates not as a defender of the worker but as a defender of its own organizational interests At times, it supports labor; at other times, state or management interests Acts as a “buffer” between management and workers FNPR’s position during the battle for the Labor Code in 2001 Now de-facto it is affiliated with the ruling “United Russia” Party

The Situation Today: Other Trade Unions: 

The Situation Today: Other Trade Unions VKT and KTR Each has declared membership of around 1 million; in practice each has around 200,000 members Rank-and-file unions do not accept management as members Face extremely uncooperative attitude from employers, state and FNPR-affiliated unions. Numerous cases of violations of trade union rights, discrimination of members and leaders, severe pressure New Labor Code seriously restricts rights of minority trade unions & non-FNPR unions Members of ICFTU New Wave of Trade Unions in Russia A third generation of trade unions in Russia is now emerging, more radical and more combative than existing unions Face difficulties fitting in with existing unions

The Worker in Russia: Second Half of 1990s: 

Nonpayment of wages reaches a peak Payment looks more like a social benefit than a real wage State and employers extremely indifferent to workers’ problems. Workers receive virtually no help from the state in getting their wages Workers prepared to wait and suffer privations, but not forever. Mass protests, strikes, and hunger-strikes take place to bring more attention to workers’ plight. The Worker in Russia: Second Half of 1990s

Number of Strikes (Source: State Committee on Statistics): 

Number of Strikes (Source: State Committee on Statistics)

Current Salary Levels: 

Current Salary Levels Russia’s economy grows as oil and gas prices soar Increase in Inequality: In 2005, individuals in the highest income bracket earned 25 times more than those in the lowest income bracket The average monthly salary today is about 9,000 rubles (about $333) 40% of workers have a salary below this average, while 22% have a salary below the minimum needed to survive (as determined by the state) Minimum living wage makes up just 20% of the minimum needed to survive Rise of the “new poor”—people who have a full-time job, but who earn very low wages

Lowest and highest paid workers (average levels) : 

Lowest and highest paid workers (average levels)

Who Are Among the New Poor?: 

Who Are Among the New Poor? Many workers in public education, health care, & other sectors of public sphere rank among the “New Poor.” Salaries are below minimum needed to survive; paid work is no a guarantee against poverty Economists calculate that the average salary today is about 70% of the level it was at the end of the 1980s The state pursues a policy of limiting the minimum wage & refuses to raise wages for public employees, arguing that a low minimum wage keeps unemployment low and helps curb inflation

“How would you describe your family circumstances?” (Source: Independent poll by the Levada-Center): 

“How would you describe your family circumstances?” (Source: Independent poll by the Levada-Center)

Two Russias: 

Two Russias One Russia is a rich state, successfully building a wealthy, capitalist society 15% of the population lives in rich Russia. They have: 85% of all savings 57% of all incomes 92% of incomes from property 96% of all foreign currency purchased Another Russia is a poor country with many social and economic problems 85% of the population lives in poor Russia. They have only: 15% of all savings 43% of all incomes 8% of incomes from property 4% of all foreign currency purchased —Academic L’vov

Other Wage Problems: 

Other Wage Problems Nonpayment of wages “Black” and “grey” salaries (about 30% of all wages) No effective mechanisms to struggle against nonpayment of wages

Protecting Workers’ Rights: Available Mechanisms : 

Protecting Workers’ Rights: Available Mechanisms Commission on Labor Dispute Resolution at the enterprise level Judicial System Office of Public Prosecutor State Inspection on Work Collective labor disputes and strikes Trade unions’ role

Labor Discrimination: 

Labor Discrimination Discrimination in labor relations based on gender, age, pregnancy, child-rearing, trade union activity, residence, & discrimination against migrant workers Discrimination formally prohibited in different levels of legislation, including the Constitution and the Labor Code, but it is virtually impossible to defend the rights of those who have been exposed to discrimination This is owing to a lack of: concrete understanding of what discrimination is & how to fight it available mechanisms concerning protection against discrimination experience with struggle for rights by those who experience discrimination implementation or enforcement of the law by Russian authorities Kaliningrad Dockers Case: Case for the ILO and European Court of Justice

Migrant Workers: 

Migrant Workers Size of Russian labor force is now nearly 74 million Migrant workers estimated at anywhere between 1.5 and 10 million, typically working in industry, construction, and agriculture Russia needs up to 1 million migrants per year to compensate for the decline in its population Most migrant workers are illegal Migrants are defenseless against their employers, police and administration of cities they move to. They are the most unprotected category of workers

Labor Rights and Democracy: 

Labor Rights and Democracy Labor rights are an integral part of human rights Today, the labor movement is separated from the rest of civil society in Russia, and neither side knows about each other For the ordinary person, democracy is not only about exercising one’s political rights at the polling station, but also about having the opportunity to influence everyday aspects of life, whether at work or in the community If citizens are unable to make choices in everyday life and do not have any influence over conditions at work, then making proper decisions in the political sphere will be impossible.

International Forum for Democratic StudiesJune 1, 2006; Washington, D.C.Fallen Icon:The Worker in Postcommunist Russia: 

International Forum for Democratic Studies June 1, 2006; Washington, D.C. Fallen Icon: The Worker in Postcommunist Russia Elena Gerasimova Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow, Spring 2006 Director, Center for Social and Labor Rights (CSLR) www.trudprava.ru