"Komsomolskaya Pravda": "Vladimir Putin: One irresponsible step and we get snapped up by rivals"
Prime Minister urges union leaders to help the Government boost labour productivity in the face of crisis
The Western wave of anti-crisis strikes, mass meetings and picketing has not reached Russia yet. Therefore, the Russian Government has probably decided to take some preventive action before it happens, first of all to talk to trade union leaders.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin shook hands with each union leader invited to a conference in his office, and explained to them about working toward a single goal in a difficult environment. The common goal, according to him, is to prevent a decline in living standards in the country.
"The federal revenues are falling sharply this year, and will continue falling in 2010, as we'll still be suffering from the global economic downturn next year," he said.
Mr Putin once again cited the Government's anti-crisis social policy. The Government has decided to allocate 43.7 billion roubles to stimulate employment, and to raise the monthly unemployment benefit to a maximum of 4,900 roubles. Furthermore, prosecution authorities will soon regain their right to take to court cases violating labour rights. At present, if a person is fired illegitimately, he has to prove it in court himself. Trade unions, too, should work to prevent personnel cuts, but without overshooting the mark.
"However, economically reasonable optimisation is different. It is done to improve labour productivity and to cut ineffective jobs, that is, to benefit the staff in the end. Trade unions should know better than to use this as a pretext for conflicts," Mr Putin said.
Responding to the Prime Minister's remarks, Mikhail Shmakov of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions said that employers often interpret incorrectly the idea of improving labour productivity, for example cutting wages instead of modernisation. Mr Shmakov insisted that minimum wage should be raised by at least 1,000 roubles next year. He also said trade unions would work to prevent personnel cuts.
"So you're saying that wages must be raised, and jobs mustn't be cut. It isn't always possible to achieve both," Mr Putin responded, adding that the world is struggling through an economic downturn, and most companies are facing a dilemma of either cutting salaries or making people redundant.
"But what about the 43 billion roubles the Government is providing?" Mr Shmakov exclaimed, immediately regretting his outburst.
"We must cooperate to prevent a decline in Russians' living standards, against all odds," Mr Putin told him.
Mr Shmakov sounded like he was not sure of his own political identity, whether he is loyal to the Government, or is a dedicated trade union leader. He issued a few mild criticisms of the Government's bailout plan, saying it was not specific enough. He said it was not clear from the plan which industries could give Russia an innovation economy.
"It should be specified which professions will be in demand, so that we know how to retrain people and don't have to do it again later," Mr Shmakov said.
"You know what we need to create together? A sense of responsibility to our country and people," Mr Putin said in conclusion. "We shouldn't allow anyone to take advantage of this difficult period and pressure us even more - not necessarily politically, but rather in terms of competition on international markets. One irresponsible step, and rivals are certain to snap us up."
Reporters then tried to provoke Mr Shmakov and make him sound like a true union activist by asking whether Russian trade unions planned major street protests like their international counterparts do.
"Our styles and practices are different," Mr Shamkov said. "For example, in France, they guillotined their kings. In Russia, the tsars were shot," he said and his own logic frightened him.
"That is why they have mass protests in France, while in Russia a three-party commission meets and resolves all the issues," he added hastily.
