Soviet trade unions
The facts and figures of the many activities of the Soviet trade unions are amazing. The trade unions financed a 16-million member sport movement, children's summer camps now counting 6,500, and the work of the tens of thousands of union clubs where workers spend much of their cultural and recreational time.
The number of teams and circles in the unions, occupied with hobbies, cultural, musical, art and other activities in free time, grew to 380,000.
The Soviet trade unions also supervise the entire social insurance system of the USSR that paid out a total of 100 billion rubles the last four years pensions, sick,
hairstyles, vacation, mother and child and such benefits. It is the most comprehensive welfare system the world has ever known. The real wages of the workers in the last four years went up an average of 18 per cent along with the cut in hours.
Most indicative of the change in the living standard in those four years has been the rise of 31 per cent in retail trade.
The Soviet trade union congress, as at many past congresses, heard another invitation to the U.S. trade unions to cooperate for a better understanding with an exchange of delegations.
Not only the trade unions but the Soviet State itself guards working people's rights and furthers their interests by legislation.
Soviet law protects workers interests by regulating labour and living conditions. This legislation is drafted with the participation of the unions and much of it is suggested by them...
Trade union committees keep a sharp eye on the legal pay rates.
Soviet law guarantees the trade unions complete freedom of action both in each enterprise, and on a national scale.
The trade unions adopt all their decisions independently, without any interference from outside. Officials are chosen by secret ballot and only the unions can appoint or remove them.
Trade union representatives actively help to draft annual economic plans. Before going for approval to the Government and the Supreme Soviet these drafts are submitted to the All Union Central Council of Trade Unions.
To be continued......