theme 4: social developments 1917-85 Flashcards
why did many women give up their jobs after there civil war
returning men were often better trained
seen as more important for men to provide for their family
discrimination in the workforce, 70% of those who were fired were female
perks of the end of the civil war on the workforce
NEP meant real wages started to rise for skilled workers
what are real wages
income expressed in terms of purchasing power as opposed to actual money received.
“what happens to real wages depends on changes in both money wages and prices”
features of the job market under the NEP
use of arteli in recruitment
growth in wage differentials (highest paid vs lowest paid)
“shock brigades” to work on construction projects
what were arteli
groups of workers, who offered their services as a group and were paid as a group.
Organised by older members and paid based off age or other random features
Government considered them a backward feature of the economy
number of hired workers in 1928 vs 1937
1928: 11.6 million
1937: 27 million
effects of the 5 year plans on the workforce
excessive targets meant factories had to employ extra workers
new factories and building works always opening -> lots of employment opportunities
because of high demand, by 1932 there were labour shortages
effects of full employment on the workers
swamping of old industrial workers by new peasant workers lead to divisions in the workplace
restrictions places on trade unions, no longer allowed to negotiate with managers –> poor working conditions
October 1930, unemployment benefit was cancelled -> trade unions left to provide social insurance such as compensation for injuries
low productivity, 1927 the average soviet worker produced 1/2 of what an average British worker produced
effects of labour shortages
workers who were unhappy with their jobs could easily find a new one, no one stayed in jobs long enough to properly learn the trade
how did the government combat labour shortages
1931: wage difference between skilled and unskilled workers increased
1932: internal passport introduced that was needed to change jobs, started distributing rations at the workplace so those in between jobs didn’t get them
1934: piecework introduced (paid by the amount you produce), however high wages were not a great incentive as there was little to buy in shops
1937: 30% of workers still changed jobs 4 times a year
bolshevik policy on housing in 1917
took big houses from rich people to partition and rent to the families of workers. meant to be assigned by need, rather they were mostly given to those higher up in the party.
not enough housing to meet the needs of all
effects of the 5 year plans on housing
enormous growth of towns put strain on housing. Housing given low priority whilst massive influx of workers meant demand was high
population of Moscow 1929 vs 1936
1929: 2.2 million
1936: 4.1 million
population of Magnitogorsk 1929 vs 1932
1929: 25
1932: 250,000
effects of housing not matching population growth during 5 year plans
workers slept in tents, makeshift huts, or in the factories they worked in
living conditions in 1936
only 6% of people rented units with more than 1 room
24% of workers only rented part of 1 room
5% lived in a kitchen or corridor
25% lived in dormitories
cost of renting
living costs were low, most families spent less than 8% of income on housing. however this did not make up for the fact that most lived without hot water or electricity
effects of WW2 on housing
Stalingrad lost 90% of housing
Leningrad lost 1/3 of housing during the siege of the city (1941-44)
who provided most social benefits for workers
trade unions
since they no longer had any real economic or political power they improved the lives of workers by organising sports facilities, meetings, and film shows
social benefits provided for workers by trade unions
given 2 weeks paid holiday, often taken on cheap subsidised vacations to state resorts
sick pay given
number of doctors 1929 vs 1940 + reason for change
1928: 70,000
1940: 155,000
many doctors had fled Russia soon after the revolution in 1917, weakening the healthcare that the government could provide so they increased the number of training
what was soviet healthcare like
lots of healthcare available, not always high quality
good sanitation, all sanitary inspectors were given the same status as doctors
patients had no choice in healthcare and all medications had to be paid for (at a low subsidised rate)
social services in cities vs rural areas by 1953
cities: soviet worker was likely to be employed, housed, and in receipt of basic social services
rural: services were primitive, if that area even had any
when did krushchev claim that the soviet society would begin to enjoy the benefits of socialism
1961
employment under developed socialism
1977 constitution guaranteed full employment. only temporary unemployment for seasonal workers and fresh graduates
employment does not equal job satisfaction, several pointless jobs invented to allow full employment
real wages rose 50% 1967-77, workers had more spending power
job security under developed socialism
1977 constitution made it difficult to fire someone for anything (laziness, incompetence, or alcoholism)
managers often ignored work discipline, many workers were absent or moonlighting
minimum wage introduced in 1956 to try stop moonlighting and keep everyone above the poverty line
improved material benefits under developed socialism
9th five year plan 1971-75 set a higher growth rate for consumer goods than heavy industry
targets were not met but they’re was still improvement
how did the nomenklatura system bring stability under developed socialism
in order to be promoted, you had to be recommended by a sponsor within the party. Workers had to show loyalty to the party.
party membership grew because of this
