The Workers’ Struggles in Russia

By VLADIMIR NIKIFOROV

Continued from last issue of NSC

The action of the workers and their daily struggle for better wages, improved working conditions and for economic benefits is on the agenda. Such actions give workers priceless experience and confidence in their power. At the same time, after several years of struggle many begin to understand, that this struggle is endless, and that what has been attained today will be taken away tomorrow, and they will be back to the drawing board. With capitalism even the most organized working class, such as in France, Germany or Italy will constantly bear defeats.

Trade union "Solidarnost" of Yaroslavl motor plant "Auto-diesel" joined the interregional trade union of MPRA workers, which includes unions of automotive companies "Avtoframos" (Moscow), Ford Motors (Leningrad region), OOO "Nokian Tires" (Leningrad region), "Auto-VAZ" and "GE Auto-VAZ" (Togliatti). MPRA during August 2007 started a campaign for a considerable increase of the automotive workers’ wages.

The workers of "Sodekso Euro-Asia" at the factory Ford Motors in Vsevolozhsk (Leningrad region) united into a trade union. Primary organization participated in the All-Russian Trade Union of the Workers of Trades and Services (OPRTU). The trade union of automotive workers MPRA which already existed in Ford promised to be a mentor for a newly created union.

On 18.08.07 in Moscow took place the Council session of the MPRA. There, a declaration was adopted in support of the workers of "Auto-VAZ" who participated in the strike of 01.08.07.

14.08.07 the second shift workers of the paint shop of Ford Motors refused to work. It was 35̊C in the shop. Other shops joined the action. Union committee of Ford requested negotiations about improvement in work conditions.

26.10.07. the work of Saint-Petersburg Post Services was paralyzed for 5 hours. Only two members of FGUP “Pochta Rossii” (“Russian Post”) participated in this strike. The action was unsanctioned and sudden. Two drivers blocked with their vehicles exit from the post office from 7am to 12pm. About 30 activists unrelated to postal services prevented unloading of letters. The strike was organized by the trade union the "Pochta Rossii - Pieter". Postal employees were supported by the trade union of Ford (Vsevolozhsk). Workers required increase in additional payments for additional job responsibilities and improvement of working conditions.

On 11.10.07 the picket of workers’ solidarity was held near the entrance to Yaroslavl motor plant. Approximately 20 people participated in the picket. The action was organized by Socialist Resistance together with the activists of trade unions "Solidarnost" at YAMZ, "Zashchita Truda" at the factory "Termosteps" and by the All-Russian Confederation of Labour at the Yaroslavl branch of the company "Baltica". The participants of the picket expressed their appreciation to the workers of YAMZ and the Yaroslavl plant of fuel steel framework who supported the strike of the workers of "Auto-VAZ" in Togliatti in August 2007. The solidarity of workers, the creation of the associations of trade unions is a new page in the class struggle and in comprehending that the interests of the working class and bourgeoisie differ.

Click here to return to the March 2008 index.