Fascinating reports from Communist women organizing in a stocking factory, the Glukhov textile factory, and the proletarian districts of Krassnaya Presny and Ivanovo-Voznesensks to supplement Aleksandra Artyukhina’s speech to the Fourth International Conference of Work Among Women held in Moscow during May and June, 1926.

‘Work of the C.P.S.U. among the Working Women of the Soviet Union: Supplementary Reports’ from International Press Correspondence. Vol. 7 No. 38. July 6, 1927.

Report of Comrade VOLKOVITSKAYA. (Women’s Organiser in a Stocking Factory in Moscow.)

Our factory employs 1300 women. Hardly any men are employed. A considerable number of our women workers come from the villages, and half of them are illiterate. Our work is under the control of the Nucleus Bureau and the Women’ Commission. The Women’s Organiser is at the some time member of the Nucleus Bureau, as the nucleus, thinks that this is beneficial to the work. Our factory has 115 women delegates. Work with them was not very easy as 30 of them cannot read nor write. Some of the delegates showed interest in this work, and in order to help us to draw them into the work, we were given permission to organise a delegate meeting in the factory with the result that we have now 63 active delegates.

In regard to participation in the press I can make the following statement: at first hardly any of the women workers even knew how to read a newspaper. They always began by reading the local news column. But when we began to draw them into the circle and to explain to them the importance of the press, they began to understand gradually what a newspaper or a periodical can give them. In the course of the last two years the general educational level of the women of this factory has been considerably raised. They read papers regularly. When I began to work in the factory last autumn, there were only 30 to 40 subscribers to the periodical “The Woman Delegate”. At present we have about 300 delegates, and they all subscribe to newspapers and periodicals. Altogether 700 to 800 women read newspapers regularly.

We have now begun to organise women’s social evenings and circles, also lectures for the women workers, plays and short dramatic sketches, the performers being drawn from the ranks of the women workers themselves. Women workers are asking for instructive lectures about women’s complaints, tuberculosis, child education and child care, etc. All these are questions in which they are interested. When excursions are organised, our factory women workers always say: “Let the young people amuse themselves, we want to learn something, and arrangement should be made that during these excursions, everything is fully explained to us.” Our club work is gradually developed and extended, and there are already definite achievements to our account.

Report of Comrade ALEXEYEVA. (Chief of the Women’s Department in Ivanovo-Voznesensk.)

Ivanovo-Voznesensk is one of the biggest textile centres. We have 80,000 women textile workers and about 100,000 women workers employed in other branches of industry. Fifty percent of all these workers are peasant women from the adjoining villages who have to walk every day 8 to 10 versts to the factory. After an 8 hours day, they walk back to their villages. Work among them is not very easy.

At present, 220 Delegate Meetings are functioning, composed of 15,000 delegates, including 8000 working women, the remainder being peasant women. The development of this work is greatly due to the support of the trade union organisations and the Party as a whole, which are much more amenable to this question than this was formerly the case.

The least progress has been made with club work, because we do not have the necessary premises. If in a factory employing 12,000 workers the club cannot hold more than 300 people, one can imagine that work is not very easy. At present, summer premises are being put up, platforms and sitting accommodation are erected, in order to be able to accommodate larger numbers, at least in summer. Although work is generally rather slack during the summer months, we have been able to keep the delegate meetings going throughout the summer, thanks to the work done during the winter. There is a 60-70% attendance at these meetings, and I must say that attendance is better in remote villages than in the chief town of the gubernia, Ivanovo-Voznesensk.

A great obstacle in the way of our work is psychology of the women. Regardless if they be literate or not, women are so backward and so intimidated through the whole mode of peasant life that we have a hard struggle to make them accept the Soviet legislation which gives them protection and equal rights with men.

There is the risk that in a big proletarian district where 80,000 women are employed in the textile industry alone, peasant women might be given a back seat. However, we cannot afford to neglect peasant women, for by bringing villages under our influence and by awakening their sympathy for the proletariat we will be able to strengthen our influence also in the factories which are still closely connected with the villages. Therefore, we have concentrated our attention on the villages, and already 102 delegate meetings are functioning there.

We would like to give as much encouragement as possible to our women comrades in Western Europe in their arduous task by showing them that we are doing our utmost to permeate the masses with Communism.

Report by Comrade MURSINA (Chief of the Women’s Department of the Moscow District Krassnaya Presnya):

Work Among Women in a Moscow District.

There are 320 enterprises employing 86,570 workers in the Krassnaya Presnya district. Two hundred of these enterprises employ women (total number 27,183). These women are organised in 16 trade unions.

Workers’ Union and to the Most of them belong to the Textile

Chemical, Food Workers’, Tailors and Printers’ Unions. There are also about 70,000 housewives in this district.

Ten people work in this Women’s Department of this district the chief of the department and nine instructors (all of them women). Every instructor is allotted work in a special factory group. The women functionaries in nuclei are under the control of the nucleus organiser who belongs to the nucleus committee. There are also women’s commissions in the nuclei in which the nucleus organiser acts as chairman. We have in our district altogether 95 nucleus organisers, ten of whom are freed from all other work, whereas the others perform several functions. The women’s commissions in the district have 690 members.

This year 2,888 Delegates were elected in the district. Two kinds of delegate meetings work in the district: some worked in the factory nuclei and the other in the district executive. An instructor is attached to every delegate meeting who is res-onsible for its work. Delegate meetings have to keep to the programme issued by the Women Workers’ Department of the C.C. or of the Moscow Party Executive. Fourty nine. circles were formed for the elaboration of delegate meetings questions. There is on an average a 73% attendance at delegate meetings and a 50% attendance at circles which elaborate the questions.

All delegates are trained to do practical work and are for this purpose attached either to the sections in the delegate meetings or to trade union organisations in factories and other enterprises. Two hundred and fifteen delegates had learned reading and writing in the course of one year.

Conferences of non-Party women are the best means for the establishment and consolidation of the connection between the Party and the mass of working women. But the Women’s Department of the Krassnaya Presnya district has refused to have anything to do with general women workers’ factory meetings. At general meetings working women are free to act as they like, and it is therefore not necessary to have recourse to that form of work. Mass work among working women is also carried on through the trade unions. The women workers of the district are almost all of them organised in trade unions. A considerable percentage of them do active trade union work, and this percentage is growing from year to year. For instance, in 1924, 125 women workers worked in factory councils, whereas their number was 425 in 1925; in 1924 there were 350 women workers in the commissions of the factory councils, and in 1925, 844; there were 328 women workshop delegates in 1924, and 1,335 in 1925.

There are 62 clubs in the district all of which have working women’s corners. There are altogether 50 such corners in the district, and 12 separate rooms are set aside for them. The clubs have also dressmaking courses (26 altogether attended by

1,600 working women) and elementary political education circles (altogether 40 attended by 816 working women).

Women workers are also recruited for voluntary public societies: for the I.R.A., the Patronage Society “Children’s Friends”, the Society of Friends of the Air-Fleet, etc. The best work is done in the I.R.A. and in the Children’s Friends. There are ten thousand women members in the latter, 230 of whom do active work. The Children’s Friends Society established last year in the villages 57 creches, 23 dressmaking and embroidery schools; it also sent seven sewing machines to various villages, and organised eight peasant women’s corners in various reading rooms.

Women are also becoming more active in the co-operative movement. For instance, there were 30 women delegates in this movement in 1923, 214 in 1924, and 542 in 1925. In 1925, there were 205 women members of land commissions and 693 in 1926.

There is also increasing activity of working women in the general work of the Krassnaya Presnya district and the Moscow Soviet. This year, 80% of the women workers participated in the elections; in 1924, 25 women workers were elected to the Moscow Soviet, and 155 in 1925; in the Soviet of the Krassnaya Presnya district there were 70 women workers in 1924, and 190 in 1925.

Efforts are also made to draw women into the Women Workers’ and Peasant Women Correspondents’ Movement. In the district there are altogether 1,881, working and peasant women correspondents, including 235 women members of editorial boards. Sixty per cent of all the working women in the district read newspapers. The periodical “The Woman Delegate” is particularly popular among working women; this year its edition reached 20,000 copies.

In order to raise the qualification of women workers, courses are held in this district for the training of tramway drivers and medical assistance. Last year 276 women workers were provided with a higher qualification. 260 women workers were promoted to responsible work (Party and economic work) in the district.

The entire work among housewives is carried on in close contact with the district soviet. This work is two-fold. Maximum attention is paid to working men’s wives, the work among them being carried on through the factory nuclei. Another part of the work is carried on through housing co-operatives. Workingmen’s wives are drawn into the work of delegate meetings.

Statistics re work connected with the social emancipation of women show that there are in the district 28 creches accomodating 1,700 children, ten medical consultation centres for pregnant women, and babies at the breast, and 48 kindergartens.

Throughout the district 15,048 women workers–45% of the total number, are drawn into public activity. The number of women members in the Party is also growing. There are at present 4,821 women members 20.6% of the total membership of the Krassnaya Presnya district.

Report of Comrade GUSSEVA (Nucleus Organiser of the Glukhov Textile Factory).

Work Among Women in a Factory.

Prior to the revolution, our factory belonged to the capitalists Morozov Bros. At that time the factory employed 15,000 workers permanently and an additional 1,000 for seasonal work. The exploitation of such a number of workers made the Brothers Morozov rich and enabled them to extend the business which absorbed more and more workers and increased the profit of the capitalists.

The conditions under which workers, and particularly women workers had to live, were very hard. The average wage of the workers was 20 roubles a month. This was considered a high wage compared with what the workers of other factories were earning. But nothing remained in the pockets of the workers from this wage, because employers managed affairs in a manner that the workers were entirely at their mercy. The Morozovs had also their own shops and the workers had to do all their purchases in them.

The housing conditions were appalling: In a room 8 to square sazhen (1 sazhen = about 2.13 metres) three families, i.e. 12 to 15 people had to live.

Moreover, all sorts of deductions were made from wages: for lighting, housing, baths, hospitals, etc. Money fines were also very hard on workers.

It was very difficult to get employment, one had to have protection. There was a ten hour working. day. Exploitation of children began at the age of ten, and the textile factories headed the way in this respect.

Particularly hard was the position of women workers, their wage was only one half of the men’s wage, and then there were fines if something went wrong with the work.

There was of course no legislation for the protection of woman labour nor for the protection of motherhood and childhood. Only two days rest was allowed women after confinements, and if they stayed away three or four days, they were dismissed. It frequently happened that women workers give birth to children at the loom.

These appalling conditions drove workers into the struggle. The Glukhov textile factory witnessed many strike movements. After a big strike in 1905, some of the workers’ demands were acceded to. For instance, water was laid on in the dwellings, washing accommodation was provided and rent as well as payment for lighting and hospital treatment was abolished. Working women were given four weeks holiday after confinement, receiving half pay during this time, but they certainly lost their places.

Workers had to pay a heavy price for these achievements, many were dismissed and arrested, and it even happened that workers were expelled from the Moscow Gubernia. At that time there was no organisation of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party in the factories; strike movements were under the leadership of non-Party comrades or comrades who had been sent by the Moscow Party Executive. It was only in 1910, that an illegal nucleus of the R.S.D.L.P. consisting of 20 members was formed.

After the victory of the reactionaries, there was more pressure on the workers, and during the world war, when nearly all the factory workers were women (the men being at the front) exploitation reached its height.

This led to a big strike in 1915 which lasted a whole month. Workers were demanding that the war should be stopped, that foremen known as speeders up and tormentors of working men and women should be dismissed, that fines be abolished, that boiling water for tea be provided free of charge, and that holidays and leave of absence in connection with confinements be given with full pay.

Many workers were thrown into the street with their families and could not find employment in other factories because of their reputation as “fomenters of discontent”.

The long duration of the war made itself felt also in the factory of Morozov brothers. There was lack of raw material, of foodstuffs, and also of fuel. One department after the other had to be closed down.

Matters did not improve even when the Provisional Government came into power. Although the Mensheviks promised a great deal with regard to improvement of conditions they did nothing.

After the October Revolution the workers felt themselves masters of the factory. Great efforts were needed to keep the factory going at all. Our country was surrounded on all sides. by white guard gangs. Our industry was ruined. When the workers took over the factory, the machinery was partly destroyed, spoiled by frost, there were no means nor raw material. But these difficulties were no deterrent to the workers. Women workers brought fuel from a distance of 15 versts (one verst= 1.1 kilometre), namely peat from the marshy districts (there were hardly any horses) and dragged also raw material from the store houses to the workshops.

Moreover, support had to be given to the front. Workers who were themselves hungry gave everything they had to the Red Army. As a result of starvation a typus epidemic broke out to which dozens of our workers fell victim. Here too, working women proved themselves self-sacrificing.

In spite of the terribly difficult situation, the Soviet Government managed to come to the help of women workers. Four hundred creches were established, and a feeding centre for the children of all workers where four thousand children were fed free of charge.

Owing to correct leadership on the part of the Communist Party and also owing to the workers’ class consciousness, the factory was saved and re-built.

It employs at present 14,619 workers including 7,916 women workers (54.1%). The average wage is 42 roubles, about 104% of the pre-war wage.

A great deal has already been done for the improvement of women workers’ conditions: there are three creches for 130 children, and one home for 80 children. The establishment of new creches to accommodate 180 children is contemplated. It is also proposed to have summer playgrounds for 400 children. The factory has a medical consultation room for pregnant women and babies which can look after 1,000 people. The maternity home is very well equipped. There is also a hospital. All hostels have a laundry. Two years ago, a dining hall was put up which can accommodate 4,000 people. Up till now 250 new buildings have been erected.

The nucleus woman organiser carries on the work among women workers. There are altogether four nucleus women organisers in the factory. In order to develop the work and to assist nucleus organisers, commissions for the work among women have been appointed. Every member of the women’s commission is given certain work to do in some branch of our work (trade union, club, or mass work, circulation of the press, recruiting members for the working women’s correspondence movement, for voluntary organisations, etc.) for which this member is responsible and on which she has to report at the session of the women’s commission. Workshop women organisers have also been appointed. They receive assistance from the heads of the workshops. There are altogether 57 such workshop heads in the factory.

Four Delegate Meetings with altogether 740 delegates work in the factory. One hundred and thirty eight delegates are exempt from other work. There is an average of 65 to 70% attendance of delegate meetings. All delegates, except those who are taught to read and write, must do some practical work, and are attached to various public organisations.

Mass work among working women is carried on through working women’s conferences and also with the help of trade unions. The following statistics are available in regard to women’s adherence to trade union organisations. There are ten women among members of factory councils and one of them holds the position of secretary, there are also five women factory council candidates, two women members of auditing commissions, 154 working women active in other commissions, 423 workshop delegates, 216 collectors of membership contributions,  29 members of the trade union committee of the factory department, 8 members of the enlarged committee of textile workers and also of the district trade union committee. Altogether 847 working women are engaged in trade union work.

One of the forms of mass work are social evenings for proletarian women. The local clubs organise such evenings to develop women’s self activity. Lectures by medical men readings from periodicals and newspapers, are held in women’s homes and in red corners.

Working women are also recruited for voluntary public societies: 600 belong to the I.R.A., 1,185 to the “Children’s Friends” and 450 to the patronage society.

Two dressmaking schools for 200 people have been opened for the purpose of drawing working women gradually into political education work. Two elementary political circles are attached to these schools. The circulation of our periodicals among the women workers is as follows: “The Woman Delegate” 1,266 copies, “The Woman Communist” 70 copies. Eighty per cent of the women workers subscribe to newspapers and periodicals. There is a circle of 20 working women correspondents.

90% of the women employed in the factory belong to consumers’ co-operatives and take an active part in the work of co-operative organisations: 32 women workers are co-operative delegates, 14 members of land commissions, one is a member of the auditing commission, 11 work as practitioners and two are delegates of the Moscow consumers’ co-operative society.

Eighty three women workers are members of town soviets; there is one woman in the presidium of the District Executive, 48 women are jurors in peoples’ courts and one woman from this factory is member of the All-Russian Central Executive. Moreover, 100 women workers work as practitioners in the sections of the town Soviets.

Women workers are encouraged to take up responsible work. Thirty women workers are engaged in economic work and twelve in Party and trade union work.

In this factory there are altogether 310 women Party members, and the organisation of the Young Communist League is also growing rapidly. It has 300 girl members (49%). There are 720 girls in the Pioneer corps.

International Press Correspondence, widely known as”Inprecorr” was published by the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) regularly in German and English, occasionally in many other languages, beginning in 1921 and lasting in English until 1938. Inprecorr’s role was to supply translated articles to the English-speaking press of the International from the Comintern’s different sections, as well as news and statements from the ECCI. Many ‘Daily Worker’ and ‘Communist’ articles originated in Inprecorr, and it also published articles by American comrades for use in other countries. It was published at least weekly, and often thrice weekly. A major contributor to the Communist press in the U.S., Inprecorr is an invaluable English-language source on the history of the Communist International and its sections.

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