Labor Protest in Russia’s Hybrid Regime

Abstract

This chapter assesses Russia's labor relations and labor protest. The avenues for resolving labor disputes have become so restricted under Vladimir Putin that often the only recourse is spontaneous action taken out of desperation, resulting in a paradox of overcontrol. Despite considerable research over the years, some key questions about Russian workers remain unanswered: To what extent have Russian industrial relations been transformed over the last two to three decades, and how much do workers and workplaces remain weighed down by the Soviet legacy? The chapter then looks at some formative episodes in Russian labor relations, such as the strike wave of the late 1990s and the adoption of the new Labor Code shortly after Putin came to power. It also considers the choice workers make between pursuing individual strategies — whether redress through the courts or exit to the informal economy — or acting collectively to address their grievances. Finally, the chapter explores the types of conflicts that generate overt protest, how the authorities tend to respond, and the struggle of workers and others to make sure their demands are heard.