04.07.08

The Federal Service of Statistics report that eight strikes took place throughout the country in January-May this year but only one in the same period of 2007. Labor time losses in May 2008 alone amounted to 28.9 thousand man-days against 20.5 thousand recorded in 2007. Experts say call strike activeness warranted.

Independent experts meanwhile question validity of state statistics. They say official statisticians only count well organized major actions and dismiss all other protests (impromptu and otherwise) as hooliganism or rallies. Natalia Zubarevich, Director of Regional Programs of the Independent Center for Social Policy, says statistical data on strikes that may be trusted do not exist in the first place because the local authorities do their honest best to keep protests under the lid.

"Whether the authorities recognize it or not, the Russians become more and more aware of their labor rights. Tension in labor relations in Russia is therefore a grim inevitability," Zubarevich said. The process is fomented by the growing rift in the income of different strata of society. "Differences between the salaries of blue collars and median-level managers are colossal. I'm not even talking of the salaries of top managers and owners. Number of the people involved in production as such has been steadily going down, and that should be making labor more expensive. In theory, that is... Strikes are going to become more frequent," Zubarevich said.

"Russia has never known strike movement as such. It's something new," Vladimir Andreyenkov of the Center for Comparative Social Studies said. "The Russians are endlessly patient. They resort to extreme forms of protest only when their patience is finally exhausted... These days, it is the rising food and petroleum prices that foment these processes."

"As a matter of fact, the Russians are more prone to drawing letters and petitions," Andreyenkov said. "It follows that whenever street protests are under way, the level of discontent must be high indeed."

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Source: «Nezavisimaya Gazeta»