Welcome to the official site of the Federation of Trade Unions of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Region
The Federation of Trade Unions of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region was established by the inspiration of branch unions in March 1991 as a full-fledged successor of Oblsovprof (the Leningrad region Trade Union Council). This is the biggest and the most powerful public organization in the North-West of Russia. The Federation unifies as many as 800 000 union members.
Union members are people of various political and religious views and beliefs. But all they want is a permanent and well-equipped workplace, decent pay, acceptable working and vacation conditions as well as dependable social guarantees. These are top-priority goals for trade unions that protect social and economic rights and interests of employees.
The Central Bureau of St. Petersburg workers’ union, being the first trade union center in Russia, set the same mission even at the beginning of the last century. Established on November 6, 1905, the former territorial association was made the basis of the present-day Federation. Since those memorable days the no longer separated unions could jointly protect working people’s rights.
The Federation now coordinates activities of 44 membership unions and nearly 7 thousand primary unions affiliated with the structure. The largest unions in the region are Public Education and Science Employees’ union, Healthcare Employees’ union, Communal, Municipal and Service Workers’ union, Agro-industrial Complex union, State Institutions and Public Service Workers’ union.
The trade union center housed in the Labor Palace is one of the most active membership organizations within the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR). This is a testing place to find out the most effective ways of human rights’ protection in the market economy. Each month FNPR monitors the social and economic life of the working population, supervises the law-making process, takes an active part in restructuring of enterprises and tariff policy making. FNPR expands the influence of unions not only in medium and small size businesses, but also in multinational companies. The organization promotes information work, children’s recreation and many other activities.
However, introduction and development of the social partnership system is the crowning achievement of the Federation in the region. Tripartite Agreements on social and economic partnership among city authorities, trade unions and employers were first made in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region in 1991. Being an essential part of the social policy in the region, these agreements in many ways keep it balanced.
The system of social partnership also embraces branch tariff agreements, municipal and collective agreements. There should be no people left with wages under subsistence level in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region in 2005. The number of enterprises with average wages reaching the minimum consumer goods basket figured up by the Federation grows each year. Besides, working conditions are getting better, and social life is developing too. In addition, the unemployment level both in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region is lower than that in other regions of Russia.
We closely co-operate with 37 union centers in Europe, Asia and America, and with a number of international trade union associations. Making use of their experience, financial and scientific resources, the Federation greatly contributes to the international trade union development.
President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Saint Petersburg and Leningrad Region is Mr. Vladimir G. Derbin.