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Humanitarian sciences in Siberia

2014 year, number

THE MONETARY INCENTIVES OF THE INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE YOUNG WORKERS OF SIBERIAN DEFENSE ENTERPRISES DURING THE GREAT PATRIOTIC WAR (1941-1945)

R.Ye. Romanov
Institute of History of the SB RAS, Russia, 630090, Novosibirsk, Akad. Nikolaev str., 8
Keywords: Siberian rear, defense industry, young workers, monetary incentives, wages

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the role of monetary incentives in stimulation of industrial activities of the young workers of Siberian defense enterprises during the Great Patriotic War. The author analyzes dynamics, disproportion in the wage level of young workers as well as their relation to the existed differentiation in wages. Changes in the average amount of salary of factory apprentices and workers (particularly as young as 25) are revealed. The author also shows the use of time-based payment, piece-rate pay and progressive forms of payment as well as correlation of these forms of stimulating wages at the large enterprises of the region. In addition, it shows the differences in wage levels depending on the conditions, type, scope and quality of work of the low-and high-paid categories of young workers - low-skilled workers and highly skilled workers (Stakhanovites). This paper also deals with application of monetary encouraging bonus system of the Stakhanovite labor characterized by high performance. At the same time the living conditions of wartime decreased the role of salaries in sustainment of young workers due to the growth of market prices and fi scal pressure from the state in general. However, normalized distribution of food and manufactured goods grew into a sort of commodity-money exchange, which at the same time rendered complete devaluation of wages impossible from the young workers’ viewpoint. Accordingly, money wages maintained their value and played an important role in survival of the young workers during the war. Nonpayment or delayed payment of wages could trigger their negative reaction and lead to a breach of labor discipline. However, in general the monetary rewards ceased to play a separate role in material stimulation of their work, because the actual employment earnings depended on the system of rationing distribution.