Russian Trade Unions and Industrial Relations in Transition

Many commentators expected the Russian trade unions to collapse along with the system of which they were an integral part, but the trade unions survived the storms of the Yeltsin era by adopting a strategy of 'social partnership'. This book, based on case-study and survey research in eight Russian regions, provides a detailed account of the development of trade unionism in Russia since the collapse of the soviet system. Against the background of the role of the trade unions in the soviet system, the book reviews the political role, structure and functions of the trade unions, development of social partnership at federal and regional levels, and provides a detailed account of the activity of the trade unions at the level of enterprise. The book concludes with a critical assessment of the Russian unions' strategy of 'social partnership' and locates it in comparative perspective.



Contents:



1 Introduction
2 Trade Unions and Industrial Relations in the Soviet System
3 Trade Unions and Politics in Post-Soviet Russia
4 The Structure of Russian Trade Unions
5 The Legal Framework of Industrial Relations
6 Social Partnership
7 The Functions of Russian Trade Unions
8 Trade Unions and Industrial Relations in the Enterprise
9 The Future of Russian Trade Unionism
Bibliography
Index



Reviews:



'Ashwin (Lecturer in Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, UK) and Clarke (Professor of Sociology, U. of Warwick, UK), who have co-published extensively on this topic, present an analysis of their research of Russian trade unions since the collapse of the USSR in 1989. The study is based on research that includes collaborative projects at the Institute for Comparative Labour Relations Research in Moscow, of which Clarke is the scientific director, as well as case studies of over 50 businesses which have experienced conflicts during this period. Topics include the role of the trade unions in the political sphere, the structure of post-soviet trade unions, the legislative framework of trade unionism and industrial relations, and functions of the trade unions.' - Book News

'Ideal Reading for students of comparative industrial relations and for all those interested in the prospects for the international labour movement in the new century.' - Richard Hyman, Professor of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics

'This important study…brings together a vast amount of empirical data and keen analytical insight. A major contribution to our understanding of Russian labour, society and polity after Communism.' - David Mandel, Professor of Political Science, Université du Québec à Montréal