DEFICIENCIES OF COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS IN HUNGARIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030339-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 339
• Publication Date: December 6, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/10/17: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030339-1
~*0W
CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED ~911T
g "Ec `~~~ =~ ? 1
SECURITY INFORMATION
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT
INFORMATION FROM
FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
LANGUAGE
COUNTRY Hungary
SUBJECT Economic - Labor, collective agreements
HOW
PUBLISHED Monthly periodical
WHERE
PUBLISHED Budapest
DATE
PUBLISHED Jul 1951
7111 W..U.T wlrtun 11roulno. unrn.. 715 01no.LL poem
0e 700 0.171 5717[0 117111 715 0010111 or .1R.0M1 In 55
.. 5. e.. 01100 n. u 10nH.. 111 7 *11111OO. 11 715 .n 817115
07 171 C..II.011. 101 .15.5. ro 411 0.157101110. MHO. It r00
.111710 IT l0. .Ir..55rno. 01 THIS rob 15 x.001.1715.
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1951
DATE DIST. (p Dec 1951
NO. OF PAGES 2
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
DEFICIENCIES OF COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS
IN HUNGARIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TRADE UNIONS
At the request of the National Council of Trade Unions, I.he Council of
Ministers has issued a decree that approximately 150 shops must conclude,
as of 1 July 1951, collective agreements for the second half of 1951. The
experience gained during the meetings leading to the conclusion of the agree-
ments indicated that the workers had understood the aims of the collective
agreements; it also proved the feasibility of consulting the workers regard-
ing the plans. Th- latter made suggestions which will increase the efficiency
of the enterprises. The agreements also contain importan? technical regula-
tions which will contribute to the fulfillment of the Five-Year Plan and fa-
cilitate the employee's work.
Although most of the factory directors understood their tasks, some of
them had neglected to protect the health of the workers by failing to install
protective equipment. To correct this, the new agreements contain protective
provisions for the second half of 1951. It was also revealed that some enter-
prises had neglected the cultural and sports aspects of their task. Appropriate
provisions of the new collective agreements outline the entire sport and cul-
tural activities of the enterprises for the second half of 1951.
As to the deficiencies which were revealed during the preparation of the
collective agreements, it must be mentioned that the enemy's rumormongering
is still a problem. For example, at Urkut the rumor was spread that the new
collective agreement entails a uniform 20-percent wage increase. At Dorog,
the mine workers were told by hostile elements that the agreement is ineffec-
tive, and it is not worth while even to discuss it.
- 1 - nn
CLASSIFICATION RESTRICTED J ! Il~U l E'1
NSRB DISTRIBUTION:
I -~
Ise 2011/10/17: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030339-1
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/10/17: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030339-1
REST1ICTE]
Some factory directors have shown disregard for the importance of the
collective agreement by rele3ating its preparation to their associates, who
were totally ignorant of the nature of the agreement. Another shortcoming
was manifested by some of the authors of the collective agreements who had
incorporated certain provisions which were in conflict with the Labor Code
and other laws. These contradictions have to do with the problems of iaca-
tions, piecework, and overtime pay.
Employees of sev'ral enterprises have shown a lack of interest in the
provisions of the agreements. For example, of the 130 employees of the
brick factory at Becsi Street, only 30 took part in the shop meetings, and
onlI' five or six workers of the Loden Clothing Factory showed interest in
the collective agreement discussions. In another instance, the meeting
had to be postponed because none of the workers were present. Employees
of the Istvan Shaft of the Csakszabolcs Mine and the workers of the Metal
Products and Machine-Tool Factory also staved away from the meetings. These
incidents prove that no adequate preparatory steps were taken by the directors
and the trade unions.
Most of the deficiencies have already been eliminated, while the re-
mainiiig shortcomings will have to be corrected after the collective agree-
ments have become effective.
Beset on the experience gained thus far, the additional tasks may be
summed up as follows:
1. It is the primary duty of the factory directors and the trade-union
officials to engage the workers in preliminary discussions regarding the
collective agreement. If necessary, special meetings must be held to ex-
plain to the workers the importance of the agreements. Newly hired employees
should also be informed of the provisions of the collective agreement.
2. The collective agreement became law after the interested parties,
the ministries, and the trade unions had signed it, therefore it is necessary
to assure that its provisions are observed. The director and the shop
committee must make quarterly reports to the workers as to the fulfillment
of the agreement. Thesy reports must be discussed by the employees. Those
who have not fulfilled their promlecs must be criticized constructively at
the quarterly meetings. Of course, this does not mean that control must be
exercised on a quarterly basis; it has to be daily and systematic. The
workers must observe and meet the target dates contained ii, the agreements.
3. The ministries and the trade unions must prevent the collective
agreement from being neglected by the enterprises. They must see that the
quarterly reports are made by all enterprises. The collective agreement in-
dicates the mutual obligations of the director and the workers. A role in
the direction and supervision of the enterprises is assigned the workers.
The collective agreement emphasizes the responsibility of the directors and
shop committees in fulfilling and _xceeding the plans.
RESTRICTED
RESTRICTED
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/10/17: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700030339-1