The Role of Trade Unions to Modernize the Russian Wage Labor Institution

Abstract

The article gives a comprehensive analysis of the situation prevailing in the area of labour relations on domestic industrial enterprises from the viewpoint of the necessity of the establishment in Russia of a civilized social institution of wage labour. Based on the results of sociological research at the Institute of Social Technologies of Samara University (monitoring studies of the socio-labour sphere of the industry of the Volga region in 2000–2013) changes in the field of labour relations in recent years are here presented. The studies were conducted annually in the monitoring mode for 10–15 industrial enterprises of the Volga region. In total between 700 and 1,000 respondents were surveyed each year. The author makes recommendations regarding the need for modernization of key institutional elements of the social institution of wage labour: collective agreements, trade unions, the negotiation process, formal labour standards. Emphasis is also given to the need to adjust social policies to enhance the role of the employee in the company and enhance workers participation in the formation of labour relations. Real social partnerships should be advanced as the tool of work motivation: higher wages, better working conditions, high competence and labour discipline. Refs 37. Tables 8.