NEW WAGE INCREASES FOR MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS (CB 61-9)

Created: 2/28/1961

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Orf'iOMj UGC ONLY

CIA/RRNo

ebruary 1GG1

/HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM

SANITIZED

CURRENT SUPPORT BRIEF

NEW WAGE INCREASES FOR MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS

OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND REPORTS

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

This report represent the Immediate view* of Ihe originating Intelligence component! of ths Office of Research and Reports. Comments ore solicited.

fefse our?

NBW WAGE INCREASES FOR MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS

Inn conjunction with the overall reforms takingI? Wage structure of tho entire Soviet urban labor force, new regulations were enacted increasing tho salariesinistry of Communications workors. This move probably can be at-

0 thS increaslnB importance of securing and retaining SKiiied labor in the expanding and increasingly complexsystems of the USSR.

The wage increases for lower-paid communications workors were to become effective boginning in tho second quarter0 andfor higher officials will become effective by September of

. rate of communications workers alreadythat of the average Soviet worker, and under the newit will9 percentmonth period while anof onlyercent is planned for tho total Soviet labor force during tho entire Seven-Year Plan. This large increase forworkers inhort period of timo strongly suggests that the Ministry of Communications has been movedigher wage-earning bracket than before. The bracketing of the wage-earning powers of Soviet industries is variable, and reflects the priority which the government attaches to individual industries. The movementabor groupigher bracket ls intended to insure the industry will have no difficultyaining labor.

Salaries for individual communications workers with the samo job positions will be uniform throughout the Soviet Union, except in large communications centers such as Leningrad and Moscow wherewill be higher. In addition, salary differentials will bein hardship areas with rigorous climates in the Arctic, Far East, and Far North.

The now regulations also provide increased incentives for young -pecialists who heretofore were discouraged from entering thefield because of longevity bonuses accorded workers with seniority, and becauso often there were only slight differences in wage rates between positions with wide-range qualification artial solution to this problem, the differential for years of service will be eliminated, although formal training and work experience will be considered in determining salaries under the new framework.1/

Bonus Incentives up toercent will be paid to those workersoreign language; up toercent for those workingdangerous or hardship conditions; and up toercent for those who overfulflll their quotas. Any sizeable gross increase in thealary, however, may be limited by theonus; for instance, improvement in the quality of work,or Productivity,avings in production costs. In addition, any violation, such as absenteeism or violation of safety rules, will cancel out the receiptonus due.2/

The last wage increase for communications workers took place inoncurrent with wage adjustments which then were being made throughout the Soviet economy. The increase effectivethe second quarter0 for the communications workers will be adjustedinimumonth. The completion of the total Soviet wage adjustment program is not expected to

MONTHLY BASE SALARIES FOR MASS TRADE WORKERS1/

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Occupation Mailmen

Telegraph operators

Long-distance telephone operators

City and rural telephone operators

Sorters of postal matter and printed publications

Chiefs ofmall cars

a!Workers in the mass tradesf theinistry of Communications workers. The remaining workers are in executive, administrative and technical positions.

b. Uniform salaries are established for communications workers in

the mass trades with subdivision into classes (categories) on the basis of qualifications. Workers of enterprisesmall volume of work and workers engaged in less responsible areas will be found in the lower categories.

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MONTHLY BASE SALARIES OF BRANCHBYI960

Class of OfficeSalary (Rubles)

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900

800

700

Branch communications offices of consolidatedenterprises are classified according to yearly income. Based5 information, those offices with an incomeubles or more were in Classubles in Class0 in Classn Classn Classn Class/ No data is available on salaries for chiefs of large communications centers.

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Analyst: Coord: Sources 1.

3. CIA. .FF USE,

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OFFICIAL USC-ONLY

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Original document.

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