PRIVATIZATION THROUGH LABOR CONFLICTS - THE CASE OF RUSSIA

Privatization is seen in Russia today as the key in the transition to a market economy. There has been a rush of property legislation in 198 9 and 1990, a proliferation of privatization plans in 1991 and 1992 an d the 'spontaneous privatization' of a number of state-owned enterpris es. However, the bulk of production facilities remain in state ownersh ip. The slow pace of privatization is not a technical problem, but rat her a social one, which is borne out by current labour conflicts and t he outlook for more to erupt. The authors deal with two levels of priv atization conflicts: within and outside the enterprise. Special attent ion is paid to the situation at the microeconomic (factory) level. The article is intended to analyse the origins and development of new typ es of workplace conflicts in Russia over the intimately connected issu es of privatization procedures and job cuts, and the development of in stitutional forms whereby these conflicts are articulated, negotiated and resolved. The article is based on a survey of various types of ent erprises (state-run, collective, labour-owned firm, joint-stock compan y) using semi-structured interviews with managers, workers and union a ctivists as well as group discussions with shop-floor workers and mana gerial personnel.