ПРОФСПІЛКИ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ РАДЯНСЬКОГО ПОЛІТИЧНОГО РЕЖИМУ (1945–1991)

Abstract

In the post-war years democratic principles were effectively nullified in the practical activities of Communist party structures at both the central and local levels. The role of the appointed party apparatus continued to expand, reinforcing bureaucratic methods of management. Centralism permeated all aspects of society, elevating arbitrary management techniques. The party, represented by the apparatus, assumed control over all facets of life. Trade unions constituted a link in the Soviet political system. Under the conditions of the totalitarian regime, they were subordinated to the party, transforming into a quasi-state entity performing political, industrial, and ideological functions as defined for them. Trade unions did not play an independent political role in the USSR and Ukrainian SSR. They merely served as a “transmission link from the party to the masses”, an additional tool for social regulation and a conduit for party influence in production across millions of workers engaged in various branches of the economy, culture, and science. The primary function of trade unions, protective in nature, took a backseat. They were now primarily tasked with production objectives such as “organizing workers and employees to fight for the steady development of the national economy...”. In essence, trade unions transformed into a branch of the administrative apparatus, intended to ensure the implementation and over-implementation of business plans, and increase labor productivity. Furthermore, they fulfilled certain ideological and educational functions based on Lenin's definition of trade unions as “schools of communism”. They had at their disposal clubs, houses of culture, libraries, and movie theaters. The cultural realm became a massive and potent channel through which the perception of the steadfastness and “correctness” of the principles of the totalitarian system was ingrained in the minds of the people.