The birth of the first trade unions dates back to the middle of the eighteenth century, when the community of workers, which was called the trade union society, was first organized in England. The whole world counts the anniversary of the formation of trade unions precisely from this year, but in Russia, professional associations have their own history.
In 1868, the first Congress of Trade Unions was convened in England. The work of the trade unions (as the union members were then called) was aimed at the struggle of the workers against the bourgeoisie, which mercilessly exploited wage workers. In Russia, the organization of workers into some kind of community was banned until 1901, when the first workers' unions were organized in Moscow and St. Petersburg with the permission of the authorities.
Trade Union Development
The trade union movement reached its scope in 1905, and by 1917 there was practically no industrial enterprise wherever the workers' union was organized. After the revolution, the All-Union Central Council of Trade Unions (AUCCTU) was created.
The trade unions played a noticeable role during the formation of Soviet power. They helped to find jobs for the unemployed, organized elementary classes in educational program (eradication of illiteracy), participated in harvesting campaigns in the countryside to remove surplus food from peasants. After the formation of the USSR, trade unions fit into the general structure. In any cell of the union, which were universally organized in enterprises, they monitored compliance with labor laws. Not a single member of the union could be fired without the consent of the local committee. Sanatoriums and rest houses, pioneer camps and kindergartens were built on membership dues. Every worker had the right once a year to get a ticket to these institutions for himself and his child. However, all the work of the trade unions was carried out under the vigilant control of the Communist Party, so it is a mistake to consider the work of the unions completely independent.
In this form, the AUCCTU existed until 1990, when on March 23 it was proclaimed a renunciation of the dogmas of Marxism-Leninism. The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia was created, which included all sectoral and territorial organizations of trade unions. Recently, the activity of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia has been taking into account changes and conditions in the general and social policy of the state. To date, trade unions have in their ranks more than 40 million members, which are united in 120 branch trade unions.
