The Role of Trade Unions in the Development of the Aerospace Industry

Abstract

The development of society in the direction of space exploration makes its own adjustments to the development of trade unions. A new system of social partnership is being created in society, in which individualized forms of labor use are dominated. It became possible to establish direct informal contacts between employers and employees. In fact, modern labor relations do not provide for mediation services that have historically been performed by trade unions. However, the activities of trade unions have gone beyond the narrow framework of the previously inherent to them functions of protecting the interests and rights of employees. Trade unions have become a social institution that provides a balance of social and economic interests of employees and employers. In the article, the authors proved that, reflecting the interests of civil society on the transition from planetary to space activities, the unions of the aerospace industry had changed the format of their activities: 1) the educational function became the priority function of trade unions of the aerospace industry, which oriented the work of trade unions towards continuous staff development; 2) the qualified personnel was in need of special working conditions and protection. In order to preserve qualified personnel in the aerospace industry, trade unions with a complex of institutional, infrastructural and legislative measures had to ensure the most favorable working conditions and their protection.