Trade union rights in Russia A political pawn

As a partner of the current Ι 11.04.2013 Hannover Fair Russia wants above all points and boost economic growth. With the rights of employees, it looks in the former workers 'and peasants' state, however in rather poor. The authoritarian Russian state holds its unions on a short leash.
On paper, there is almost everything in Russia: The right to collective bargaining, the right to trade union association and the free access of trade union representatives to companies. The actual situation in Russia does indeed look different. 22 years after the end of the Soviet Union have unions in Russia difficult to enforce the rights of workers.



The pressure from employers and the policy is large. Unions are not independent interlocutor at eye level for the state. People who stand up for workers' interests and conflicts are not afraid to risk to be patronized and dismissed. The state structures in the center of power in Moscow and the regions to ensure that burgeoning labor disputes to be swept under the rug quickly. Because of their fragmentation and due to little support in the population are Russian trade unions are weak today and a political football.

Proximity to power
Fragmented they are the one in traditional unions in the succession of Soviet structures. These unions form the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR). Numerically, the umbrella organization FNPR has 24 million members, the alternative trade unions, which are organized in the newly formed Confederation of Labor (KTR) (nearly 3 million members), vastly superior. The leadership of FNPR consciously seeks proximity to power and Putin has supported in his controversial re-election as president.

The alternative trade unions under the umbrella KTR see, in contrast, disadvantaged by current laws and often operate in a gray area or even in illegality. The law also applies to the control of non-governmental organizations and trade unions this limits their future opportunities a sensitive. The juxtaposition of traditional and alternative unions hinder the trade union movement in Russia. Legal changes and the new Labour Code further weaken the position of the trade unions. Because some industries employers' associations are missing to conclude collective wage agreements can be difficult. Collective bargaining may request a union only if it represents at least 50 percent of the workers in an enterprise.

Harassment and assault
In addition, in Russia the ideas of market self-regulation have the upper hand. Consequences are often social degradation and deterioration of the economic situation of the employees. Irony of history: In the previous work and peasants' state, where once again the collective and the individual is not counted everything, many things are turned upside down. Real wages often fall short of the inflation rates. Precarious forms of employment such as temporary work, outsourcing and service contracts are on the rise. Black labor is widespread. Discussed the increase in the retirement age.

Even aggressions against active union are not uncommon. End of 2008 there were particular against members of the very active Interregional Automobile Workers union (ITUA) to raids. The partially successful struggle of this union for wage increases and better working conditions in many multinational companies aroused great opposition not only among employers but also for public authorities and administrations, are following partially own economic interests, some fear an impact on other businesses and protests. The raids were not, or not fully investigated. The ensuing protests of the International Metalworkers' Federation and its member organizations have led to no result, the letter to the competent public prosecutor went unanswered.

The list of violations of trade union rights is long:
Attacks on trade union activists (such as Ford, GM, TagAZ) and the inaction of the police and prosecutors.
Refusal of the employer to recognize the trade union organizations and to negotiate with them. The registration of a trade union organization is often denied on procedural grounds by the authorities.
The union officials access to their workplace union members are denied.
Union activists are set by prosecutors and representatives of the Interior Ministry under pressure. Tax investigations are initiated illegally.
Union leaflets are classified by Innenmisterium as extremist materials.
Limited protection against dismissal
Since 2009, the dismissal of elected, but not exempt union activists is virtually eliminated. The law against demonstrations that falls under anti-terrorism measures, limits the ability of unions further. Even major Trade Unions of Russia are reluctant to exercise their right to strike. Strikes must be booked in advance with details of how many people are on strike and how long the strike will last.

The scope of the Russian trade unions is therefore highly restricted compared to Western industrialized countries. Nevertheless, the Russian trade unions try to attract new members and strengthened to provide organizational work among youth and women. With the support of international unions access to Russian trade unions organizing methods and use the possibilities of the Internet. Valuable works council afford the employee representatives, for example, the VW plant in Kaluga. Even with Ford and the VW supplier Benteler good agreements were achieved thanks to effective trade union structures. However, this may change Leutturmprojekte little on the weak position of trade unions in Russia so far.