One in ten Russians says trade unions protect employees

Less than ten percent of Russians have the feeling trade unions have a tangible influence on the lives and position of hired employees, a VCIOM opinion poll has found after questioning an audience of 1,600 in 153 localities of 46 territories of Russia.

The national public opinion studies center has found that half of the polled do not even suspect the existence of some trade union associations at all, and two-thirds of hired employees are not trade union members, the Itar-Tass reports..

As many as 40 percent of the respondents doubt the trade union’s ability of doing anything good for them. Over 40 percent of the questioned see no force capable of protecting the rights hired employees, and 16 to 22 percent tend to seek protection from the management or direct superiors.