ALIENATING LABOR: a DISSERTATION Anikó Eszter Bartha HISTORY 2007 in CEU Etd Collection Permission of the Author

CEU eTD Collection Professor JacekKochanowicz ______Supervisor of Dissertation and Ph. D.Director Presented to the Faculties of the Central European University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degreeof Doctor ofPhilosophy WORKERS ONTHEFROM ROAD SOCIALISM TOCAPITALISMIN EAST GERMANY ANDHUNGARY(1968-1989) ALIENATING LABOR: A DISSERTATION Anikó Eszter Bartha HISTORY 2007 IN CEU eTD Collection permission of the Author. be written made the may not without instructions with madesuch in copies accordance apart form must from This obtained page of made.Further copies Librarian. the any such lodgedAuthor and in may be Library the of Central the European University. Details by given the with instructions bethe in part,may ineither accordance madeonly full or process, any by Copies Author. the with rests dissertation this of text in the Copyright Copyright Notice 2 CEU eTD Collection exploited the dissatisfaction of the population in internal party debates about economic about internal party debates in population the of dissatisfaction the exploited hardliners the working Although class. dialogue to open the wasanattemptthere with populationthe continuation forthe in more ofreform, ideologically even the GDR rigid between the workers and the party in both countries. Since the party needed the support of termsagreement the the of re-negotiating upspacefor period opened of reform economic countries. argues the that in It two between party andthe relationship the the workers of development in the patterns common were there that demonstrates also dissertation the of dictatorship.a welfare variants regimes In both thisprocess. represented respect decision-making economic and political the in participation workers’ widen to refusing regime aconsumption-oriented inHungary - propagated policy consequently while defendworkers thesocialist system in 1989.The regime Honecker like –just theKádár butneitherthe Polish did tothe – in case complete contrast – during period the examined regimes the against action working-class independent no was there why of question the different socialist environments, the dissertation locates common factors in order to answer study of the party’s policyand Rába MVGin Gy towards the working classregimes in these through two, two partlyfactory similar,case studies partly in East Germany and its political before collapse. Hungary (Carl Zeiss Jena well started economicof system the that the decline economic whichshowed history, a “year –an zero” This unquestionable point. turning boundary was firstchallenged by Becauseoffocus 1989 awatershed onpolitical event. the wasoften seenas 1989 upheaval, By comparing the East German and Hungarian workers’ experience of socialism, of experience workers’ Hungarian and German East the By comparing This dissertation seeks to explore the social roots of the decline of the socialistyear of renderedthe regimes socialist European Eastern of the collapse The rapid Ę r) from r) from latethe 1960s until 1989. By undertaking acomparative Abstract 3 CEU eTD Collection collected informationcollected Ideological reports. rigidity was more powerfully in enforced the regularly through of can be documented population the discontent Germany. Themounting working people. working classpolitical freedom. With lossthe ideologicalof the battle the regime’s support among the crumbled, for actual lack the limited compensation means of control the over production and of as it wasit levels consumption inWestern thatexisted could poor countries, capitalist only offer increasinglyboth countries became the basis of legitimacy, and given that it couldnot offer the kinds of difficult workers the itsFor consumption-orientedthe followed policy politicalin was that rule. tolegitimize to only served category that abstract an party, for the even became, increasingly sustain the 1980s,andthe of “workingby the class” however,ran out steam These attempts, loyalty building countcommunity programs.these brigades) andeducational (socialist we can of the the hadmovement, in policy features workers countries: common both amongst towards labor the of objectives emancipatory original the with accordance In provision. welfare of extension the with planning central on sector.Honecker, combined contrary, the state the opportunity for peopleearn to moremoney in their“second” jobsfinishing after in work forms. Hungaryin albeit different workers to the concessions itinstead,offered economic structure; power experimented reform.carry in to andthey its believed ability through partner a conversation with thatin criticism 1960stheworkers suggests in theparty countries late both accepted the as the expansion actual the factories. ofthe inimportantly, working Even more class powerlessness the the ideology and party the of “workerist” the between contradictions the attacking hardliners of the market,reform, the which criticism offered documented an in the period went beyond the expectations of the In 1980s the visible of signs the decline inHungary were inand repressed East Social dialogue ended infailurein both countries. The party changerefused to the 4 CEU eTD Collection freedom freedom as beingimportant, more materialthan concessions. limited people political regarded that suggest of Honecker regime the judgmentnegative and Kádárthe the unambiguously pictureof era systems. Theambiguous of two the memory in the reflected was climate political different their failed, regimes both Although regime. the of unpopularity the demonstrated eventually that border Hungarian the GDR, where it was the mass flight of the population from the country after the opening of 5 CEU eTD Collection finish in thearchival research Germany (Rudolstadt). indebtedam Rézleralso tothe fortheir GyulaFoundation thatenabled meto scholarship MarieCurie-Fellowship Foundation support of inBielefeld.I and ZEIT thethe 4-month Leipzig forgrateful generous I am particularly University. the andEuropean the Central Thomas Welskopp. for my support dissertation The from alotwork. also benefited of inspiringthe comments his andadvises. comments thank for his I Troebst Stefan encouragementand continuous patience during of the writing final versionalotmy owes dissertation.the The work to of I also thank Mark Pittaway for proofreading my work and his comments. grants from Ireceived wascompleted that The fieldwork through University the of I thankmy Ph.Jacek D.supervisor, Kochanowicz for his and crucial support Acknowledgement 6 CEU eTD Collection to be politically undesirable because it could have been used as a criticism of socialist of the as a criticism used have been it could because beundesirable politically to considered was workers on research real any socialism, Under now. is it than research my time Istarted atthe was less in popular that a subject increase myinterest however, did, narratives, These alone. interviews of basis the on socialism late of – everydays the alone memory of is, of asocial course, re-construct andonecannot process, the functioning –let “actually existing” socialism; neither would they regard it as their system. The construction with herself himselfor identify would really noone picture, amixed showed Kádár regime Hungary’s of memory working-class Although alternative. a socialist support therefore, the change of regime wouldideology of the strong state. be stronglyimplementation critical of capitalismexpectation of leadingthe to and new experience between assuch. contradiction The order capitalist the challenge thehowever, searchsystem for “enemies” wasinworking “narratives of a “model” factory. These vividly not, decline” did presented and theresolved support of loss of of andaccept the prestige to fear of unemployment, live theconstant to with learn the to had also they but situation financial with difficult increasingly in an themselves find only the argumentof the factory were reduced to one-quarter of the original number. The workers did not insystems hadlived. which wasthey Thescaleof change apparently the personnel radical: that two the saw they how and regime of change the after years thirteen change somethingpostsocialist of My the Hungarian workers Rábafactory the 2001/2002. experienced studiedhow thesis went of the Social and Political Scienceswrong of the University of Cambridge in the academic year of Faculty the at Global Transformations and Society in Modern with my M.Phil.-degree part of the These results challenged the original hypothesis of the project that the “losers” of “losers” the that project the of hypothesis original the challenged These results My interestin labor history was awoken by interviewan project that as Iundertook Preface and they would, 7 CEU eTD Collection the decline of regimes. decline of these the socialist policy towards the working class as well as identifyto the common social roots of of features common certain Comparisonof the purpose inthissenseservesthe establishing experimented with different both countries 1960s, European Inthe of semi-periphery. Eastern the Hungary waspart reforms of theirGermany aleading nation working-classwas industrial with whereas movement, a strong planned economiescountries: two between the differences historical important were bloc, there socialistthe with varyingto belonged GDR the and Hungary both Although outcomes.history. European Eastern of context the in power explanatory its theory and world-systems which discussed European University, workers’ alienation from the socialist system was a crucial factor in their decline. after the collapsemodified form,itcan be alsoasked why independent wasnothere working-class action of Communist why support refused asocialistknow a alternative. In to Burawoy workers to the wanted rule regimes the hadnothat Europeitpopularbecame support, control of manifest Eastern in Eastern distanced themselves from While regime. ruling the with renouncementthe of Sovietthe Europe. his fellow workers refusedBoth tobelieve that they were building socialism and they effectively questionshegemonic despotism for thesocialist countries well.as During he hisfieldwork found that impliedtest that his fieldwork in factoriesHungarian general in the mid-1980s.Burawoy originally came toHungary to theory of working rediscovery the class. forof the very favorable not the development was climate intellectual This system. discredited former, the with associated uncritically system. After the collapse of the Eastern Europeanof communist regimes, workers were often factory regimes from bureauractic to The selection of the twocountries was influenced by my M. A.-thesis at the Central whoconducted from Burawoy, Michael was borrowed research question My first 8 CEU eTD Collection with interest. after the end of the Cold War, I hope that a broader public will also read my dissertation Since the history of socialism remains a challenging and controversial topic even topic controversial and a challenging remains socialism of history the Since 9 CEU eTD Collection W W nrdcin...... 14 Introduction List of Illustrations...... 13 List of Tables...... 12 ORKERS INTHE ORKERS INTHE 6. Labor Policy in the District...... 232 5. Reform and Retreat...... 200 2. Labor Policy ...... 101 in the County 4. The Party and the Workers...... 152 3. Labor Policy in the Factory...... 125 1. Reform and Materialism...... 73 New inequalities? Managing discontent ofThe “unity theeconomicand social policy” of experiment The endthe Planning theimpossible? Aninvestigation inthe instrument plant Ideology andmanagement: The lot ofa socialist manager was notahappy one “What dowe get out ofsocialism?” Educating thepublic The standard-of-living policy “Would you callthecapitalists back?” ofThe the failure standard-of-living policy Losing members Party life Organizing women Quotas Opposing themanagement Socialist brigades Fringe benefits incentives Economic Ending the social dialogue The appearanceofthenew rich Downgrading theworking class? Structurethe dissertation of Carl Zeiss Jena (1945-1990) Rába MVG in Rába MVG Gy of the factories The selection From toretreat: reform theGDRunderlate socialism The beginningof market socialism inHungary Workers andsocialist ownership The crisis the welfareof dictatorships ...... 153 ...... 164 K H ONECKER ÁDÁR ...... 132 ...... 168 Ę ...... 251 ...... 139 r (1945-1989) R ...... 161 ...... 113 ...... 125 EGIME ...... 243 L E RA IST OF ...... 227 ...... 145 ...... 94 ...... 72 ...... 70 ...... 199 ...... 102 ...... 63 ...... 56 ...... 84 ...... 74 ...... 58 ...... 30 C ...... 200 ...... 14 ONTENTS ...... 185 ...... 174 ...... 234 ...... 42 ...... 48 ...... 215 .203 10 CEU eTD Collection eeecs...... 345 References List ...... 344 of abbreviations Appendix: ...... 339 Tables Conclusion...... 328 8. The Party and the Workers...... 302 7. Labor Policy in the Factory...... 256 The endofsilence Losing members Party life Women intheparty The IKPOofZeiss innumbers Labor policy for womenLabor policy for “Du unddeinWerk” From hostels toflats ...... 310 ...... 317 ...... 324 ...... 308 ...... 256 ...... 280 ...... 289 ...... 304 11 CEU eTD Collection Table 10: The mendistribution of and women amongworkers the various Table 9: Differential between men and women workers in VEB Carl Zeiss Jena Table 8: Development of female Table 8:Development employees of education of the and qualification Table 7: Managerial inwages selected workshops of MVG in(Ft) 1979 libraries features Table MVG 6: Main of the of of Rába MVG(%) oftheworkforce education of the 5:Development Table Table 4: Education and qualification of blue-collar workers according Table 4:Education workers of and qualification blue-collar Table 3:Education accordingof workers theirin to ages MVG in 1977 (%) 340 Table 2:Wages in ofindustrial county the workers (Ft) Table 1: Wage increase ofindustrial in county inworkers the 1973 (Ft) wage-groups inwage-groups VEB Carl Zeiss Jena in 1978 in average wages) 1978 (monthly in the Zeiss factory (in number and %) to their ageandgenderinin MVG 1977 (person) List ofTables 343 343 342 342 341 341 340 339 339 12 CEU eTD Collection Figure 5: The South Works of VEB Carl Zeiss Jena Figure 4: The headquarter of Rába MVG in Gy Figure 3: Logo of VEB Carl Zeiss Figure 2:Logo of Rába Figure 1: Two models of managemententerprise List ofIllustrations Ę r 199 72 70 63 36 13 CEU eTD Collection MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Végrehajtó Bizottságának anyagai. Jegyz 1977. január 26.-itaggy 2 1 have been explained in the discussion. I would like to point out thatit is not right that the abit passive “The are why reasons comrades inspeech of secretary: party the closing the wages”. our they are cutting of increase prices, whatinwe see living.understand arisingstandard whereand to the of relation Despite earn mynorms cannot money violate the if I Icannot even technical specifications. I here. They always demandspendminutes interestscannotnot represent they workers’ the Ithinkworking. that 480 do more work for less demonstrated thethat human body needs a breakduringitsmoney. eightworkinghours. Sowe Afterhave countries capitalist the of the psychologists the even hours, present working of utilization revision of the init to makesWhen I read meWith everything upanewspaper, the I pick angry.respect show menot is political thatthe Idon’t mood experience good. living. a standard of rising do here. increases price The isvery good everything that show statistics be atall. The said increases in prices.the They nevertheless mood issay our that generally Thisgood. cannot affect blue-collarnot good. Theis mood political the previous side my on that say freely can I reports, workers. information the speakers “Concerning have mentioned We thefeel problem uneasyof revising the normsboth that about the revision of norms and the The crisis ofthewelfaredictatorships MVG Gy MVG (MagyarVagon-és Gépgyár): Hungarian Wagon and Machine Factory. Ę r Megyeir Jogú Város Levéltára (GYML), X. 415/196/9,Magyar Szocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) 1 in Gy In January 1977 the primary party organization of the Motor Factory of Factory of In January Rába Motor primary the of organization party 1977 the Ę r held a party meeting, where a mechanic made the following comment: made following the whereamechanic meeting, held a party r Ħ lésér Ę l, 4-5. l, Introduction 2 The criticism received some consideration some received Thecriticism Ę könyv a MotorPártalapszervezet 14 CEU eTD Collection detail in followingthe chapter. 72, 2006,11-31. The role ofHungarianworkers’ councilsthe the inrevolution of more 1956 isdiscussed in denJahren.’ 1990er in Arbeitergeschichtsschreibung der Perspektiven – Arbeiterschaft der Sozialgeschichte vergleichenden zur Proletariats des Heldengeschichte verhinderten der ’Von Welskopp, Thomas see: narrative old ofthe critique a theoretical For behaviour”. – consciousness – “situation triangle the to simplified been has consciousness argument, in this traditional narrative the complex relationship betweenclass positionand class history of the proletariat” –was present inthe Western historiography as well. According to Welskopp’s ideological requirements, this “traditional” paradigm - that Thomas Welskopp called the “prevented heroic 5 megközelítésben:az ipari munkásság,szocializmus a széthullása és rekonstrukciója,1953-1958’, 6 major instances of open working-class protest against the ruling regimes in rulingthe against the Eastern regimes instancesmajor protest open working-class of no were there of Romania, andthelesserone Poland, of 1960s, with markedexception the Hungarian revolution of in1956, which both were rooted working-class protest both GDR the inand Hungary the 1950s revoltof in– the 1953 GDRandthe the to dominantthis legitimizingideology. working class, the writing of working-class histories under state socialism had to conform legitimation of these regimes, and the Communist parties claimed to rule in the name of the self- the to central was theory Sinceclass debate. academic than rather ideological to andsubject regimes, European Communist of Eastern the theestablishment issue since has beeninfactawidely contested by Thisrelationship as was regime. propagated the as unclouded wasnot and party-state the workers between the relationship reveal thatthe however, forums. Thecitations, public was in criticism tell widespread how to difficult 2,000 Ftfor another. Themanagement should working also provide better conditions”. responsibilitymanagement the of the wageis that 8,000Ft is the it but enough not is money the that is true It employee. every and each of here need we have equal that realize should Comrades heard recently. often hasbeenso disagreement and this have that such abadopinion counterparts of white-collar workers blue-collar their 4 3 While labor history the in Eastern Europeancountries was influenced directly by the political and For a social history of the For a social history Hungarianof the revolutionofsee: Pittaway, 1956 Mark ‘Amagyarforradalom új Jegyz Ft = Forint, Hungarian currency. Ę könyv a Motor Pártalapszervezet 1977. január 26.-i taggy 26.-i január 1977. Pártalapszervezet Motor a könyv In Rába few MVG party recordsof meetingsgrass-roots havesurvived,is soit While there were instances of working-class revolt against the ruling regimes in regimes ruling the against revolt working-class of instances were While there 1999 Zeitschrift für Sozialgeschichte des 20.und 21. Jahrhunderts 5 Ħ lésér Ę l 3 , op. cit. for one job while it is only , 3.no. (1993), 34-53. 6 - from the Eszmélet 4 15 , CEU eTD Collection industriellen Gro Thomas Welskopp (eds.). Lauschke- Karl-Thomas in: Gesellschaften’ industrieller und industrialisierender Geschichte vergleichende London: DukeUniversity 3-24;Press, Welskopp, Thomas 1997), modernes ’Ein Klassenkonzept fürdie Class: Power Politics inIndustrial andEveryday Communities, the Netherlands, 1850-1950 reinterpretation of the8 concepttársadalom of class rather than propagating its general crisis. See Don Kalb, id. civil társadalomtól apolitikai társadalom felé. Munkástanácsok 1989-93 Tamás Krausz, (ed.) Krausz, Tamás Tamás Krausz - Péter Márkussee: (eds.).Hungary in alternatives leftist of chances of the re-evaluation critical a For 1992). Press, Chicago of Radiant Past: Ideology and Reality inHungary’s Road to Capitalism were liberated from the bureaucratic tutelage of parties. their ruling of Communist tutelage liberated from bureaucratic were the from they after working classes very European little support Eastern received management basedprograms philosophies ofdemocratic socialismon workers’ and the self- Contrary to the expectations of many Eastern and Western European leftist, political position and classconsciousness characterized of dominant in trends Marxist thought. histories; the events of the year disproved notions of a simple equivalence between working-class class official of narratives “legitimizing” the discredited 1989 in region the across European socialist countries. The eventual and rapid collapse of Communist regimes 7 Kádár era in Hungary, and there is relatively little for East Germany, littleKádárinis for Hungary, East erathesestudies relatively there and and for onthe is, thelate noliterature – 1960sonwards the topic practically there consequently, 1950s, rather than on relationshipthe between theworking-class from and party the state and 1940s during the socialism ofearly focused era the on has butattention histories which downplayed the social and political of industrialroles workers. “embourgeoisiement”, on based futures in invested elites intellectual as past, socialist utterly discredited class histories Eastern the European favorablepolitical for intellectual and climate revisiting working- after the change of regimes: all forms of class theory were regarded as While it has become fashionable to dismiss class analysis altogether, there are authors who propose the Michael Burawoy self-critically reflected to these expectations in Michael Burawoy- János Lukács, János Burawoy- Michael in expectations these to reflected self-critically Burawoy Michael Baloldalúj - kihívások el In recent years there has been a renewed interestin Eastern European working-class (Budapest: Gondolat, 1995). ȕ betrieben des 20. Jahrhunderts 8 Rendszerváltás és társadalomkritika and the “working class” was often uncritically associated with the state Mikropolitik imUnternehmen.Arbeitsbeziehungen und Machtstrukturen in Ę tt (Budapest:Aula Kiadó, László 2003); Thoma, Önkormányzás vagy az elitek uralma? (Essen: Klartext-Verlag, 1994), 48-106. (Budapest:Napvilág, 1998); ErzsébetSzalai, (Chicago and London: The University The London: and (Chicago (Budapest: T-Twins Kiadó,1994); (Budapest: Liberter, 1995).; Alternatívák nélküli (Durham and 7 Nor was Nor Expanding The 16 A CEU eTD Collection (id., intervals time different at conducted interviews of narrative light the in ofregime change the of experience Munkástörténet –munkásantropológia collected volume onworking-class history see: Horváth-László Sándor Peth munkásn and Austria 1945-1995 studies of socialism genderand see: Éva Fodor, Socialist City’ (Budapest:MTA Történettudományi Intézete, 2004); id., ’Remaking Working-Class Life Hungary'sin First of working-class lifethe in1950s see: SándorHorváth, State in Early Socialist Hungary’ University of Liverpool,1998); id.,’The Reproduction of Hierarchy: Skill,Working-Class Culture and the see:’Industrial Workers, id., Socialist Industrialisation and StateHungary,the in 1948-1958’(Ph. industrialization, D., ofSoviet-type era the in state the and workers the between relationship the studied Pittaway Mark case Hungarian the In focus. theoretical than rather descriptive a have and analysis class avoids carefully ofregimes change the after working-class German East the of historiography the exceptions, some KaelbleKocka-Hartmut -Jürgen Zwahr (eds). Schein derStabilität: DDR-Betriebsalltag der in ÄraHonecker Anspruch und soziale Wirklichkeit PeterHübner-Christoph Kle 1996); PeterHübner- KlausTenfelde (eds.). (eds.). Ostdeutschland Zweierlei Geschichte. Lebensgeschichte und Geschichtsbewusstsein von Arbeiternehmern in West -und Jahrbuch Arbeit, Bildung, Kultur Weberskirch. ’Die’Wende’ 1989/90ausderSicht vonStahlarbeitern inHenningsdorf und Dortmund’ DDR Dietz, 2002), consumption (Ina Merkel, as welfare policy (Beatrix Bouvier, Honecker Ära Weil, Industriearbeitim VEB Leipziger Baumwollspinnerei Jahren Sozialgeschichte DDR-Industrie’ der Innenleben zum Studie Eine DDR-Textilbetrieb. einem in Arbeiterinnen Ansorg,’Ich immer hab vonDruckunten gekriegt und oben’: von Weibliche Leitungskaderund Strukturen zwischen Zerfall und Neubildung (eds.). Zierke Hofmann-Irene Vester-Michael Michael Eisenhüttenstadt Eisenhüttenstadt: Utopievon der zurGegenwart: Wandelindustrieller, regionaler undsozialer Strukturen in (Berlin: Metropol-Verlag, 2001),217-228; Jenny Richter-Heike Förster-UlrichLakemann (eds.). Reichel - Thomas Hürtgen Renate – Paradoxienkleine Mann und Ambivalenzeneiner ostdeutschenArbeiterfigur vor derWende’nach und in: ostdeutscherArbeiteralltag im Kraftwerk Elbe’ ostdeutschen Industrieregion more ethnographically oriented studies see:Regina Bittner, Arbeiterinteressen undSozialpolitikin derSBZ/DDR 1945-1970 DDR. Klett-Cotta, (Stuttgart: 1994), 171-187;id., Industriearbeiterschaft’,in:Kaelble-Jürgen Hartmut Kocka-Hartmut Zwahr(eds.).Sozialgeschichte der 9 of concept literature the European in Eastern the decades. Since for two thepast ignored largely thesehavebeen of after issues class, for arevisiting of argues It countries. both of literatures in national ignored the largely been issues have that addresses dissertation hardly deal at all with the issue of how the workers related to the socialist state. For the GDR see: Peter Hübner, ’Die Zukunft war gestern: soziale und mentale Trends in der DDR- Szubjektív történelem 1980-1994 , Köln: Böhlau, 1999) and consciousnesshistorical Faulenbach (Bernd -Annette Leo-Klaus Herrschaftsanspruch und soziale Wirklichkeit: zweisachsische Betriebe in der DDR während der Die Grenzender Diktatur:Staat undGesellschaft inderDDR (Berlin: Elefanten Press,1990); Schüler, Annette ’ Ę k élettörténeti elbeszéléseiben’ élettörténeti k (Köln: Böhlau,2000).Literature on Honeckerthe mainly era addresses particular aspects such Journal of InternationalJournal of Laborand Working-Class History , Essen: Klartext-Verlag, 2000). For collected volumes see: Richard Bessel-Ralph Jessen Bessel-Ralph Richard see: volumes collected For 2000). Klartext-Verlag, , Essen: , 39(1999),123-165; Merkel, Ina … (Marburg: Schüren,1997). isalso There orientation an towards regional studies, see,e.g. (Durham:Duke University Press, 2003);Eszter ZsófiaTóth, ’Változó identitások . (Frankfurt-New CampusYork: Verlag,‚Rund 1998);id., umdieUhr– ȕ mann-Klaus Tenfelde (eds.) 12(1994), 167-201; Bernd Faulenbach-Annette Leo-Klaus Weberskirch, The Journal ofModern History (Köln:Böhlau, 2005); Renate Hürtgen- Thomas Reichel (eds.). , Budapest: MTA Szociológiai Intézet, 1995). Die DDR-einSozialstaat? Sozialpolitik der ÄraHonecker, in (Budapest: Napvilág Kiadó, 2003). Judit Sas H. studies the Der Schein der Stabilität: DDR-Betriebsalltag inder ÄraHonecker Utopie und Bedürfnis: die Geschichte derKonsumkultur in der Évkönyv X (Köln:Bund-Verlag, 1995) and studythe of seegender, Leonore Sozialgeschichte DDR der Arbeiter in der SBZ – DDR Zeitschrift fürVolkskunde Working Difference: Women’s Working Lives in Hungary und Du, Frauder 50er anderWerkbank:die DDRin . (Budapest:. 1956-os 2002), Intézet, 76–89.For a (Leipzig: Leipziger-Univ.-Verl., 2001);Francesca Soziale Milieus in Ostdeutschland. Gesellschaftliche DieSpinne’: dieErfahrungsgeschichte weiblicher Konsens, Konflikt undKompromi A kapu és ahatár: mindennapi Sztálinváros Arbeiter im Staatssozialismus: ideologischer Kolonien des Eigensinns. Ethnographie einer (Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1995).Forother, . (Berlin: Metropol-Verlag, 2001);Hartmut 74(December2002),737-769. For study a (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck &Ruprecht, (Stuttgart:Klett-Cotta, 1994).With (Essen: Klartext-Verlag, 1999); , no. 68, no. (Fall2005),24-46. For , 96(2000),203-217;’Der id., Ę -Eszter ZsófiaTóth(eds.), , Stalinstadt- ȕ Archiv für : Soziale 9 Bonn: This Der 17 CEU eTD Collection old capitalist company meant more to workers than abstract notions of class worker-peasants in local openly ofHungarian sources the case, speak of documents party-state: the archival class and a relevant class consciousness can be easily refuted, even through the official linear development of class consciousness. itby revisits so, heroicdoing of or simplisticnarratives the histories of of workers, the unexplored. largely remain will regimes these of collapse rapid the of roots social the workers, that without acritical history of the relationshipbetween the socialist system andindustrial in 1989. In part for this reason,the socialthe weaknessesneglect of their system, of for the theworkers didworking not defend the “workers’ class elites from the concealed ideology states” legitimizing class-based the party-states’ Yet, worked. carries another re- been has concept danger the much however in; back it bring to - difficult more the all is it state, party the of legitimation with the exclusively almost beingassociated years socialist class itself developed ideologically and politically-overloaded inconnotations thelater munkásállamban exploited by the party state (See, forinstance, Miklós Haraszti’s book, thought thatthe working classwould turn against rulingthe regimes because were they consciousof being 12 11 regimes. of these weakness internal the into insights Democracyin Eastern Europe failure to prognosticate the rapid collapse of the Communist regimes. (Klaus vonBeyme, 10 %Ę ’A bejáró munkások társadalmi-politikai magatartása’ változásai Magyarországon retrospective life histories Andorka, peasantry, and many workers also had an income from agricultural activity.social On mobility see: Rudolf Studies of social mobility showed that significant partentitled of the socialist chapter See the working class peasantry. the wasof recruitedincomes higher from the of the envious 13 Interestingly, Eastern European dissident intellectuals remained withinthis conceptual framework, but they For a discussionof the expanded concept of class see DonKalb, op. cit., 3-17. The year of 1989 was, with the words of Klaus von Beyme, a “black Friday” for social sciences for their As the documents explain, urban workers often identified the commuters as peasants, and they were they and peasants, as commuters the identified often workers urban explain, documents the As hm – László Pál, This dissertation therefore adopts a relational and historical approach classto Historical comparison ofHungarian socialmobility, 1930-1963, bymeans of census data and 10 , Párizs, MagyarFüzetek, 1979). 13 Társadalmunk ingázói - az ingázók társadalma , conflict, and from the Zeiss factory it was reported that loyalty to the (Budapest: Statisztikai Kiadó Vállalat, 1974); id., (Budapest:Gondolat, 1982).On thecommuters see:B Antal , London: Macmillan, 1996). historyThe workingof classthe can offer new 12 Simplified notions of a homogenous working- Társadalmi Szemle (Budapest: Kossuth Kiadó,1985). Downgradingworking the class? 34,10 (1979),50-58; no. Antal Darabbér. Egymunkás a A társadalmi mobilitás Ę hm – László – hm Pál, Transition to 11 , and 18 CEU eTD Collection transformation win to considerable social support. disappointed in socialism itself, thus the opening way notionsfor of capitalist as a class,leaving them workers effectively alienated party the state argues that leftistregimesof inboth dissertation anythe countries alternatives, suppressed discussion Hungarian case urban skilled workers likewise did not back the Kádárback regime. the likewise not did workers caseskilled Hungarian urban the in and rule, Honecker’s of judgment negative overall the influenced system new the of experiences negative even not GDR the of case the In regime. Honecker under the and era, Kádár in late the system socialist from the alienated wereeffectively workers build with initial regimeto attempted successes, asettlement class,despite working the myforrelevant is study dissertation the in even that argues that though the 1960s the demonstrates the loss of the social support for the regime. Whatmakes the concept of class atandtargeted this group, the initial failure success ultimate and policy of labor this its social support.heavy-industrial, thatskilled working-class “core” the regime becrucial considered to for the embodied factories both of The workforces The in Hungary. MVG Rába and Germany East party’s policyparticular national and local contexts usingtowards two factory case-studies - Carl Zeiss in Jena in tothe workers working but class examines was therefore the relationship chiefly between workers and the party state in two 17/2002, 13-22;Werner Schmidt, Germany Hungaryand found that eventhoughEast theexperiencein of transformationproject was history more painfulMy oral inHungary core. the to closer are that countries in than periphery the in longer persist Origins ofthe EuropeanWorld-Economy intheSixteenth Century work, classical Wallerstein’s (see countries expectation to catch upwith the material welfare levelsand of consumption of the developed capitalist “core” LosAngeles: University of Press,California 1999)–myths related to industrial development,and the Expectations ofModernity: MythsandMeanings ofUrban on ZambianLife the Copperbelt, 16 either. regime Honecker ofthe image apositive have not did because eventhough the majority of the interview partners were critical of the new, capitalist system, they Transformation der Prozess beste Zeit’: Erinnerungenan den DDR- Alltagin verschiedenen Milieus’ unsere ’Eigentlich Hofmann, Michael Ahbe- Thomas e.g. (see, of “Ostalgie” akind to power explanatory 15 consciousness. 14 See the chapter entitled chapter Seethe It can be argued that what James Ferguson called the expectations of modernity (James Ferguson, (James ofmodernity expectations the called Ferguson James what that be argued can It Informationfrom the life-history interviews. There is a tendency the in literature to attribute too much 14 Therefore this study Planning theimpossible? (München, Mering: Hampp, 1996). My doesresearch not support thisargument Betriebliche Sozialordnung undostdeutsches Arbeitnehmerbewußtsein im does not The Modern World-System I: Capitalist Agricultureand the attribute any pre-given class consciousness 16 (New AcademicYork: Press, 1974)– Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte Berkeley and Berkeley 15 As the , B 19 CEU eTD Collection 19 18 17 county inGy of employees mood thepublic concerning information reports collected exhaustion ofthe in essence, themeant, policy party’sstandard-of-living the of failure The reform. economic policy towards the working betweengrown workingthe class and wealthier social whohad groups, benefited from class. On the basis hadofreduce income that differentials leadership promised party to the popular support, the regularly itreform.would Fearing that lose market of divided the on social consequences the alsoline was itself but party because the in of hardening the Brezhnev-era, Soviet the the notbecause of only followed by however, retreat a partial was, of economic1968 reform Évkönyve reform of its planned economy to provide the economic basis for its welfare policy. welfare its for basis economic the provide to economy planned its of reform marketsocialistKhrushchev, reform experimented Hungary with under a discussions by Soviet the Encouraged “working people”. of standard-of-living the of increase general Kádárorganized byJános - was re- party that MSZMP –the Communist the defeat1956, Hungarian of revolution of regimein came 1989,signs much visible of decline earlierinwere Hungary.Following the Hungary; the other as collectivist –East Germany.Even though the real crisis of the Kádár – reformist as labeled be can one socialism; to approaches different two offer they in: Dénesin: Némedi (ed.). (Eszter Bartha, ’Munkások it. from amunkásállamaberration an than után. rather A változássystem etnográfiája capitalist ofthe egy voltconsequence a szocialistaas seen were "mintagyárban’,they but criticized much of neighborhoodworkplace and communities -and increasing social inequalities in the new system were ideology of the strong state. Inthe East German interviews, the decline of community life - inparticular that wrong withthe went implementation something ofthat capitalism argument leadingthe to with the searchfor resolved was “enemies” and expectation the support and of the experience between The contradiction such. as order capitalist challenge however, not, did of decline” “narratives these Germany, East in than late the In 1970s. the of half second the from policy standard-of-living the and country the Rába MVG belonged to Gy to belonged MVG Rába The The reform of 1968 isintroduced detail inmore in Party. Workers’ Socialist Hungarian Munkáspárt): Szocialista MSZMP(Magyar 19 The two countries – the GDR and Hungary – were chosen as examples because and Rába MVG, people became increasingly critical of the economic situation of situation economic the of critical increasingly and became MVG, people Rába 2002 , Budapest: ELTE Szociológiai és Szociálpolitikai Intézet, 2003, 117-147). Köt Ę Ę jelek. Az Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem Szociológiai Doktori Iskolájának r-Sopron county. r-Sopron 17 implemented a consumption-oriented policy that promised a promised that policy a consumption-oriented implemented The beginning of market socialism in Hungary Ę r-Sopron . 18 The 20 CEU eTD Collection to increase worker control over the factories; in actual fact, socialist collectivism of this of collectivism socialist fact, in actual factories; the over control worker increase to initiativesThese – including brigade socialistthe movement intended –werenot,however, community building andsupport for workers’ culture and education in both countries. workingthe non-materialisttowards values includedof including promotion class the policy party’s the True, materials. inother nor reports, information in mentioned never was self-management workers’ level; an everyday on alsosuppressed were alternatives leftist of Discussions regime. the to an articulated alternative workers when resistance GDR and Hungary 1953 and1956werelast oflarge-scale moments working-class develop in late1970s the and blossomed sixteen duringthe months of Solidarity,in the inup reform Whilediscussions. inPoland anindependentworkers’ movementstarted to any of his people. continuouslyparallel standard-of-living increasethe with Hungarian policy the - to welfare “correct”in Honecker of policy –amarked this shortage promisedconsumerand goods. to of because increasing the mounting social discontent to however, led, system economic Hungary based on de-centralization and the development of sectors. of based development strategic and the Hungary onde-centralization in than reform economic type of with a different experimented Ulbricht secretary. first GDR in Ulbricht’s economic 1971after reform failed, forced which theresignation of the inpower to the came Honecker increases in provision. welfare consistent through regime Hungary in importantrespects. Thefirst two wasthe winattemptto for people the over party and the political system. criticism of the overt into gradually developed discontent mounting economic Kádárera, 20 The reform experiment is discussed at length in leftist The second common feature of suppression feature regimes of the of consequent The second wasthe two common The policies pursued in the GDR under Honecker were similar to those inKádár’s those to were similar Honecker in GDRunder the pursued The policies attemptto reform socialism: direct the ownership of didworkers not even come From reform to retreat: the GDR under late socialism 20 His new . 21 CEU eTD Collection Szovjetunióban 1985-1991 Peresztrojka tulajdonáthelyezés. és Tanulmányok dokumentumok és arendszerváltás történetéb (Zoltán Bíró Sz., ‘Politikatörténeti vázlat a kés problems that was missing from the central leadership but the political will to initiate structural reforms. and Kirilin was relievedcountries using modern technology. Kirilin The report did not meet the approval ofof the political leadershiphis post.with respect to the most important parameters Zoltán there is an increasing gap betweenthe Soviet Union and Bíróthe the Sovieteconomy the leadership ofunder Deputy V. A.Kirilin Minister.Prime Sz. study The concluded that of perspectives argues and state of the study an extensive conducted analysts that governmental 1979 in development: it was economic slackening of the not informed was leadership theSoviet the that evidence is There 2004). recognitionAnst., of the economic for the GDR see: André Steiner, André see: GDR the for For Hungary see: György Földes, György see: Hungary For 22 political dogma that could only be challenged at the risk of a scholar’s academic career academic a risk the scholar’s of at becould only challenged that dogma political lay the surface. that under tensions the about silence enforced of the decline social “visible” systemmore the respect, this In visible.. GDR in the dictatorship welfare in Hungary Westthe in opening1989 with the borders, of thatrendered thecrisis Hungarian the the of complements to citizens GDR of flight mass the only was It population. the among discontent mounting the of expression the open in– prevented than Hungary much was stronger –which Honecker picture of under control ideological large-scale in GDR,where the evident alsobecame class working an East Germany policy, amongeven membership. party the engulfed on an everyday level limitsthe of – and eventually failurethe –of standard-of-livingthe in growing awareness trace to is itpossible materials Hungarian the basis of the On countries. dissertation – the of andsuppression Solidarity emergence the surrounded politicalthat turmoil seeks to because wasexceptional the of in -which inPoland as spectacular the GDRandHungary, show that signs of the social decline could be detected in both power. kind was meant to compensate the workers for their effective exclusion from political 21 It has been shown for both countries that the welfare policy was increasingly financed by foreign loans. The argument is developed in developed is argument The 21 Prior to 1989,Prior theintertwining was to witha state” working of class the “workers’ the Even though lossthe of working-classthe supportfor regime the not asvisibly was (Budapest, 2003),11-51. Socialist brigades Von Plan zu Plan. Eine Wirtschaftsgeschichte der DDR Az eladósodás Az eladósodás politikaitörténete 1957-1986 Ę i Szovjetunióról’, in Tamás Krausz –ZoltánBíró Sz. (eds.), and 22 The failure of the Thefailureof party’s the policy towards “Du und dein Werk” dein und “Du . (Budapest:Gondolat, 1995); (München, Dt.Vrl- Ę l a 22 CEU eTD Collection (Eberhard Nemitz, (Eberhard thatyoung trainees in the GDR concluded anhad otherwise overall positive (which study picture of socialism) sociological wasNemitz’s publishedEberhard inWest Germany instance, for Germanies; two the between Industrieprovinz der DDR Wierling, Plato-Dorothee von Alexander history projectof oral Western the GDR scholarsIn the focusedchapter). on the study following of the in historical detail consciousnessmore in discussed is (Lutz Niethammer- (This regime the from themselves distanced increasingly workers the that observed already has he where factory, a in fieldwork conducted Poland 1980-1981 1991). For a contemporaryPolitical SociologyPoland’s of Working-Class Democratization study see: Alain Touraine24 et al., Eastern Europe oftenhad to they rely factories, ontheoretical analysissocialist to access (see: JanF. had Triskararely –Charles West the Gati (eds.), from scholars Since 1990). Politik, und Wissenschaft soziales Verhalten. ZurEntstehung derempirischen Sozialstrukturforschung inderDDR Laatz, Horst GDRsee the in sociology over controversies ideological ofthe study über Jugendliche in volkseigenen Betrieben des Bauwesens Budapest: M Kemény, (István regime of change (1972), 36-48.His essays ondiffering working-class mentalities were publishedHungary in only the after Vas- ésFémm exile for studies on his poverty. (ed.), See:id., the sociologist István Kemény, who examined working-class life under socialism was eventually forced into 23 behind the iron curtain. interest ininterest thehalf first 1980s.the of of awave generated Solidarity of rise the where Poland, of exception with the literature; in the little attention relatively received andtheparty workers the relationship between roots members were silenced in the GDR: the party materials of the Honecker era are Honecker the of materials party the GDR: in the silenced members were roots thegrass- inwhereas Hungary be documented could from party the alienation workers’ the conversation partner andbelieved that it would beable accomplishto reform. In the 1980s, a party as the accepted workers importantly, More party. andthe workers the between was that countries both in interesting all above it period reform the rendered What wassystem. socialist the last time of the contradictions revealsunexplored in sodoing and reform economic tothe responses when elements introduce theworkers’ study social accompanied bybroader The aims dialogue. to of a realHungary. inboth 1960s economicwereIn the reforms initiated countries,which were dialogue developmentof this relationship seeking tofindcommon patterns between GDR the couldand be documented Haraszti’s citedbook,forinstance, triggered ashow-trial against the author(Haraszti, op.cit, 1979)and For a discussion of the social background of Solidarity see Roman Laba, Roman see of Solidarity background social of the discussion a For Ħ Ħ vel vek munkásaivek , London: Allen & Unwin, 1981). Ę déskutató Intézet, 1990). Inthe GDR there was amuch more fierce ideological fight (Cambridge: Cambridge University 1983).Press, InKádár’s Hungary Michael Burawoy Junge Produktionsarbeiter undLehrlinge derDDR. in EineempirischeUntersuchung (Berlin: Rowohlt-Berlin-Verlag, 1991). (Budapest,1971);’A magyar id., munkásság rétegz 23 Yet in cold-war Western Europe and North America the America North and Europe Western in cold-war Yet Velünk nevelkedett a gép: Magyar munkások ahetvenes évek elején Die volkseigene Erfahrung: eineArchäologieLebens des inder 24 The dissertation therefore specifically addresses the addresses specifically therefore Thedissertation Pest megyePest munkásai , Koblenz: Verlag Siegfried Bublies, 1988). For a Solidarity: TheSolidarity: ofaSocial Analysis Movement, (Princeton: Princeton University Press, University Princeton (Princeton: (Budapest,1971); id.,(ed.), The Solidarity:Roots of A Ę dése’, Blue-collar Workers in Klassenstruktur und Szociológia (Köln: Verlag (Köln: A Csepel , no. 1 23 , CEU eTD Collection of the Eastern bloc where the Soviet military presence and ideological control was much control andideological military presence Soviet the bloc where of Eastern the economy While used manyworkers the opportunities of private–or,asitthe was secondcalled, the countries - also known“Western” socialist most of the one Hungary rendered which censorship), of mitigation as “goulash communism” (traveling, dictatorship the softeningby of wasaccompaniedagradual sector private the or “the happiestgaveKádár-government further the greenlightto pro-marketreforms. The expansion of barrack inthe GDR, the in thethan earlier Hungary in felt camp”.were problems economic As the retreat. resignation the leading to failed, of reform Ulbricht’s while countries: two inthe trajectories different the first secretary, had reform Economic reasons. for different in cases both albeit can be documented the Hungarianprotests against the regime – in contrast to Poland – signs of mounting social discontentreform was followed only ideas. political workers’ of by a partial little very documents andofficial us producedunderthethey influence of propaganda, tell 25 society. of individualization increasing the and collectivism, socialist of decline the to living achievewere neededahigher informal contributed to standardof that or economies, inin theformal whether working and hours, Increasing interest increased the consumption 453-471. Unmaking of Kádár’s Hungary’, Peter in: Hübner-Christoph Kle Pittaway, ‘Accommodation and the Limits of Economic Reform: Industrial Workers during the Making and Kritika 27 and the Rise of the Private Sector in Hungary economy see: Ákos Róna-Tas, Chicago London:and The University of Chicago Press, 1995).On the establishment Hungarian of market socialism inHungary (see: Martha Lampland, 26 hipotézisek For a similar argument see Erzsébet Szalai, ’Tulajdonviszonyok, társadalomszerkezet ésmunkásság’ társadalomszerkezet ’Tulajdonviszonyok, Szalai, see Erzsébet argument a similar For On the second economy in Hungary see: István R. Gábor– Péter Galasi, According to the argument of Martha Lampland, capitalist relations in agriculture were established under established were agriculture in relations capitalist Lampland, ofMartha argument the to According , 33, no. 9(2004), 2-6.Mark Pittaway speaks of the privatizationof working the class. See: Mark The wasalwaysGDR, by contrast, regardedas a socialist stronghold on border the While the “welfare dictatorships” successfully prevented open open working-class prevented successfully “welfareWhile dictatorships” the 25 (Budapest: Közgazdasági és Jogi Könyvkiadó, 1981). - people’s dissatisfaction increased because of inequalities. social because increasedwidening of -people’s dissatisfaction The Great Surprisethe of SmallTransformation: The DemiseCommunism of (Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan, 1997). The Object ofLabor.Commodification Socialist in Hungary ȕ mann-Klaus Tenfelde (eds.),op. cit., 2005, A ’második’ gazdaság: Tények és 27 24 26 , CEU eTD Collection Soziologische Analyse. (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1993). Johannes Wei Johannes Gesellschaft homogen?’ DDR-Gesellschaft die War Oder DDR der Widersprüchlichkeit konstitutive Geburtstag (Hamburg: Krämer, 2003), 487-494. Fora sociological analysis see also Detlef Pollack, ’Die Sterbling (eds.), Gesellschaft.Identitätsprobleme Bevölkerungder Ostdeutschlands’ in: StephanBeetz-Ulf Jacob-Anton intelligentsia and Christian opposition masses and the ofworkers and peasants (id.,’Die namenlose and the latter belonging to the Eastern European semi-periphery of theEuropean of Europeansemi-periphery Eastern the belonging to latter andthe at differentof stages industrial industrial formerthe nation development, beingaleading consideration. Prior to the establishment of Communist rule, Germany and Hungary stood state. with party the relationship workers’ the influenced -l reformist other the collectivist, – one rule socialist of models different how speak of speak inequality in 1989. prior of widening social to the GDR 29 WestdeutscherVerlag, 1982). Produktionsarbeiterschaft und wissenschaftlich-technischer Intelligenz im Industriebetrieb? intelligentsia wasbelieved be to privilegedin totheworkingcomparison class Hungary – andeconomic gapbetween theandGDR West Germany. Even though the Kádár’s in found one reformist the by than GDR, in the prevalent model collectivist more bythe were generated that shortages goods; of consumer shortage atthe targeted therefore was Criticism system. socialist the of superiority the of fiction the maintain topublicly allowedpreventopen states criticism the extent in that greater than Hungary to andEast West German livingstandards of continued grow, to repression was used toa central planning with a significant combined Honecker reform, Ulbricht’s collapse of After the directly. West capitalist extension of the welfare compete with morethe markeda needto wasalso in than There Hungary. more stronger state. As the gap between the argument see Günter Erbe, Günter see argument Sozialstruktur der DDRinden Jahren 1978 bis1989 – eine Literaturanalyse politische Bildung, 1989), 125-143;Katharina Belwe, Zimmermann (eds.), Weidenfeld-Hartmut Werner in DDR’ der in Wandel gesellshcaftlicher und ’Sozialstruktur Belwe, Katharina 28 Jaroslav Krejci, See Linda Fuller, SeeLinda The selection of the two countries was motivated by another, broader historical , 24, no. 1 (1998), 1 , 24,no. 110-131;Hans JoasKohli(eds.), -Martin ȕ distinguishes between the high party leadership, the mid level cadres, members of the old ofthe members cadres, level mid the leadership, party the high between distinguishes Soziologieüber die Grenzen Social Structure Divided in Germany Deutschland-Handbuch. Eine doppelte Bilanz 1949-1989 WhereWas Working the Class?: Revolution in Eastern Germany Arbeiterklasse undIntelligenz DDR. inder SozialeAnnäherung von . Festschrift. Prof. für Dr. h.c.Bálint Balla zum75. (London: Croom Helm, 1976). In his essay his In 1976). Helm, Croom (London: Entwicklung der Intelligenz innerhalb der Der Zusammenbruch der DDR. 29 (Bonn, 1990).Fora counter- The comparison shows comparison The (Bonn: Landeszentrale für (Urbana, 1999); Geschichte und 28 , we cannot (Opladen: 25 CEU eTD Collection bis zuden1930er Jahren und industrielle Beziehungen in der deutschen undamerikanischen Eisen- undStahlindustrie von den1860er Class in Germany before the First World War historiography see also: Richard J. Evans, Lage der Arbeiter unter dem Kapitalismus Princeton University Press, 1986). From the literature of the GDR see: JürgenKuczynski, Class Formation. Nineteenth-Century Patterns inWestern Europeand the UnitedStates Jahrhundert Arbeiter im Deutschen Kaiserreich 1871bis 1914 Parteiensystem undSozialmilieu desKaiserreichs (ed.), Sozialstaat: Entstehung undEntwicklung iminternationalen Vergleich Verfassungsgeschichte 19. des und20.Jahrhunderts Arbeiterbewegung,Parteien und Parlamentarismus: Aufsätze zur Deutschen Sozial- und Sozialstaat (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck &Ruprecht, 1983); id.,(ed.). Arbeiterbewegungen im 19. Jahrhundert: Deutschland, Österreich, England, und Frankreich im Vergleich Arbeiterbewegung in Deutschland 1800-1875 (Göttingen:Vandenhoeck &Ruprecht, 1979), 137-165; id., Jahrhundert im Aufri – Organisation. Strukturensozialer Ungleichheit inDeutschland vom18. späten biszum frühen20. literature on working-class formation andpolitical activity Germany,in see:Jürgen Kocka,. ’Stand – Klasse Magyar munkásszociográfiák 1888-1945 1988). Acollectionof working-classpre-war ethnographies was by published György ed.,(id.,Litván interwar period see: PéterSipos, kialakulása, 1867-1914 working-classOn the formationHungary in see:Rézler, Gyula 31 1985); György Ránki, 1974); Iván T.Berend – György Ránki, és társadalom. Tanulmányok hazánk Kelet-Európa és XIX-XX. századi történetér decided to buy decided at– least or support the to silence–of peoplethe the standard-of-the through Honecker. The reform period ended with the failure of dialogue in both countries: the party remarkable in the awillingnessGDRlisten party the workers’ demonstrated Thiswas to opinions. to particularly - in comparisonin which debate social areal witnessed reform Theperiod of economic features. common with the later disappearance The open working-classperiodization protest. the of welfare dictatorships displays also of criticism absence of the party and the laborof policies the between relationship the into insights under in all of the Eastern European of casestudiescomparisoncourse, fully-fledged cannot, of giveworkers typology two a of socialist systems,institutions provided forsimilarand experiences sometimes Theattitudes. even but it can provide socialist identical near both cases; to were common that social responses certain produced us with some useful 30 economy. The working-class formationand political mobilizationof laborsubstantially differed inthe two counties. On the peripheral development of the Hungarian economy see Iván T. Berend – György Ránki, Der Aufstieg der deutschen Arbeiterbewegung:Sozialdemokratie und FreieGewerkschaften im : FestschriftGerhard für A.Ritter Geburtstagzum 65. (München: Saur, 1994); Gerhard A.Ritter, 30 (Stuttgart: Klett-Cotta, 1991); Thomas Welskopp, Despite different working-class traditions in the two countries in thetwo traditions working-class different Despite Mozgásterek, kényszerpályák. ȕ (Budapest: Rekord, 1938). For astudy on the political mobilization of laborthe in ’ Hans-Ulrichin: Wehler (ed.), (Bonn: Dietz, 1994). See also: Ira Katznelson -Aristide R. Zolberg (eds.), Legális és illegális munkásmozgalom,1919-1944 The Hungarian Economy inthe 20.Century , Budapest:, Kossuth Kiadó,1974). There is muchmore extensive Proletarians and Politics. Socialism, ProtestandtheWorking (New York: St.Martin’s Press, 1990). (Berlin,Bonn: Dietz Verlag, 1983); id.,(ed.), (Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1967). For adiscussionof (Bonn: Dietz, 1992); Klaus Tenfelde, (ed.), Válogatotttanulmányok (Budapest:Magvet (München: Oldenbourg,1990); id.-Klaus Tenfelde, (Göttingen: Vandenhoeck-Ruprecht, 1976);id., Klassen indereuropäischenSozialgeschichte Lohnarbeit und Klassenbildung. Arbeiter und Von derArbeiterbewegung zummodernen Arbeit und Macht im Hüttenwerk. Arbeits- A magyar nagyipari munkásosztály (München: Oldenbourg, 1989);id., Ę (London: Croom Helm, l (Budapest: Gondolat, (Budapest: Magvet Die Geschichte der 31 , socialist rule socialist , Arbeiter im20. Ę (Princeton: Europäische , 1983). Gazdaság Working- Der 26 Ę , CEU eTD Collection Története Tanszék, 2006), 12-27. születésnapjára 70. professzor Emil Palotás sorsközösség. és Történelem (ed.), Krausz Tamás in: elméletei’ nagy átalakulás A kelet-európai társadalomtudomány. 1998, 307-315. For adiscussionofparadigms main of transformationsee Eszter Bartha, tranzitológia válsága: A kelet-európai változások és a tranzitológiai elmélet’ in: Tamás Krausz (ed.), op. cit., to Michael Burawoy Chrisand Hann. For a theoretical criticism of transitology see Bill Lomax, ‘A beenwidely criticized by withdiverseauthors theoretical backgrounds, from László David Starkand Bruszt Közép-Európa“globalizáció” a fényében’Tamás Krausz in: op. 1998,194-209.(ed.), cit., Transitology has forEasternEurope’, Europe Taylor, Kochanowicz-Lance Jacek 34 For“early”an economic criticism of the neoliberal program inEastern Europe see: Alice H. Amsden- East Central Europe years. socialist state the of “gains” social other andsomethe of full employment, of maintenance achieve levels with the Western to consumption argued, combined aspiration of the “expectations ofmodernity”. “expectations new institutions facilitated Western of adoption The economies. market and institutions “catch up” with developedthe capitalist countries by adoptingWestern-style political its which left socialpeoplelost disillusioned. increasingly content, party With the adoption of the from Marx and Lenin, increasingly real workers disappeared from party the documents. consumption-oriented party:the thespeeches German of while in East leadersthe party abounded quotations policy the working-class orientation consumptiontowards was paralleled with a gradual change in rhetoricthe of ideology ofliving policy andthe promise levelsWestern catching upwith of of consumption. The the 33 32 the mitigated of industrial costs social InHungary socialistthe welfare re-structuring. West system which Germany, of welfare the becausetheformer adopted Hungary in Germany inEast than painful less economically was of transformation The experience levels. methodological at and theoretical at both for newparadigms asearch generated This question. into called was “transition” the of legitimacy was the an illusion, state ChristopherG. A.Bryant-Edmund Mokrzycki, 16. footnote See 33 (Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1994); Peter Gowan, ‘Neo-liberal theory and practice After the failure of the state socialist project, Eastern European countries hoped hoped to countries EasternEuropean failuresocialistproject, of state the After the As it became clear that combining the market economy with the socialist welfare socialist the economy with market the combining that clear became Asit (London: Routledge, 1994). New Left Review The MarketMeets its Match: Restructuring theEconomies ofEastern 32 , 213(1995),317-343; Hugo Radice, kapitalizmus: ‘Afeltámadt Kelet- These expectations, as Bryant and Mokrzycki rightly and Mokrzycki asBryant Theseexpectations, The New Transformation?Great Change and Continuity in (Budapest,Kelet-Európa ELTE ’ Rendszerváltozás és Kelet-Európa: 27 34 CEU eTD Collection and Losand Angeles: University of California Press, 2000), 1-38. id., (ed.), 36 University of California Press, 2002). system was dismantled outright. see: Lynne Haney, Communism’, after Poland in State Welfare the on Reflections Demise: ’Incomplete Kochanowicz, Jacek see: budget.(Fora discussion of Polish the case to which Hungary shows some similarity between1990 and 1994 the Bokros-package after (named the Minister of Finance, Lajosorder1995 in Bokros)to in stabilize the state accepted government Hungarian the after back cut severely were benefit unemployment as such provisions employment subsidization andthe of food utilities and prices disappeared 1989,after social security 35 called the extensive case method. case called extensive the is regimes Honecker examined. social transformation, and economic of shapedby havebeen previous experiences regimes the post-socialist in the conclusion, the working-class memory of the Kádár and showing workers’ alienation from the socialist regime in large factories where state where large factories in regime socialist from the alienation showing workers’ by theory: of extension the is dimension last The research. in the fulfilled is that condition state in both the of policy countries.labor the to studies case individual the link to is essential it contexts, national The third dimension is the indifferent located which are factory comparestudies, of to since inthe findings the order extension of the casefor my research important isparticularly study This dimension relationship. a dialectic of nature in time, a to a “structured” one in which thisis asa however,method, not an linkestablished, reference tobut “expressive” totality the part is shaped case theextended byof perspective the From aschool. within bureaucratization family,its the relation to the whole, expressiontaking of the macro, discovering reification within the factory, commodificationthe within micro levels.and the macro between the of a link isestablishment the dimension Thesecond factories. One way both of andtoworkers with workers former interviews conducted useslife-history also think of theparticipant observation. Even though the dissertation primarily macro-microrelies on archival sources,it link is to view the micro as an The The extensive case method is described inMichael Burawoy, ‘Introduction: Reaching for the Global’, in To be more precise,while important elements of the socialist welfare system such asuniversal Methodologically, the dissertation seeks to make Methodologically,Michael Burawoy seeksto useof what dissertation the Global Ethnography: Forces,Connections, and Imaginations inaPostmodern World Social Research Inventing the Needy:Gender andthe Politics ofWelfare inHungary , 64, no. 4. (1997),, 64, no. 4. 1445-1469.).welfare On policy postsocialist Hungary in 35 36 While it is recognized that collective memory the memory of collective is Whileit that recognized The first dimension of the extended case method is (Berkeley: (Berkeley 28 CEU eTD Collection the topic see: Konrad H. Jarausch, ’Die gescheiterte Gesellschaft. Überlegungen zu einer Sozialgeschichte einer zu Überlegungen Gesellschaft. gescheiterte ’Die Jarausch, H. Konrad see: topic the here to reflect on the seemdebates tobe incomplete or they institutions deviateits from the structuresGermany, West to of understood referred when the as since, normative. GDR the Itcannotfor writing beof absences” the intention “definition a means usually of comparison of kind thethis Further, historyregime. Honecker ofthe specificity the of prove doesnot alone Eastthis Germany, Germany; from the extensivemost frequently West Germany. While socialist institutionsliterature undoubtedly differed from that of West on41 1986. Arbeiterbewegungen im 19. Jahrhundert, Geschichtsschreibung (eds.). Historical Sociology Arbeitergeschichte’ und 39 40 38 Postsocialist World of socialism. of specific were notcase that institutions tothein national discoverspecificity studies variant andlocal is in analysis description, lost of a mass that is, adanger however, there structure, pre-given pattern of the formation of class consciousness. Without being related to abigger formation of working-class politicallocal in-depthiscase argued It insights studies. into can that case studies the better offer compare to common less is ideasit structures, thanbig of thecomparison the of grand examples narrativesseveral that tend to assume aspects areof purpose dissertation, the discussedinmoreWhile two are there detail. a welllost it political hadregime before power. started redistribution was atits strongest, the dissertation argues that the social decline of the 37 There is an extensive literature on comparison that cannot be introduced herebe introduced cannot comparison on that literature There isan extensive considerations. motivated aswell methodological by as wastherefore studies theoretical relationsformulated. are wherelabor environment moreseriously factory should a social as be likewise the taken arguedthat histories working-class of narrative “heroic” traditional the of critics “transition”, of notions studies to basedon thatanthropology correctives providecould thought anecessary Thomas Welskopp, ‘Der Betrieb als soziales Handlungsfeld. Neuere Forschungsansätze in der Industrie- der in Forschungsansätze Neuere Handlungsfeld. soziales als Betrieb ‘Der Welskopp, Thomas Outof extensivethe literature the dissertation mainly used Theda Skocpol (ed.), Chris Hann (ed.), This criticism is particularly valid forthe East German literature, where the main point of reference is the Michael BurawoyMichael Verdery-Katherine (eds.), While scholars such as Michael Burawoy, Katherine Verdery Katherine Burawoy, as Michael such While scholars Geschichte und Vergleich: Ansätze und Ergebnisse international vergleichender 41 Since comparison requires the case studies to be more relational,it can offer (Lanham: Rowman&Littlefield Publishers, 1999). Postsocialism: Ideals, Ideologies and Practices in Eurasia (Cambridge: Cambridge University Heinz-GerhardPress, 1984); Haupt-JürgenKocka (Frankfurt/Main, New York: Campus Verlag, 1996); JürgenKocka (ed.), Geschichte und Gesellschaft op. cit., 1983; Ira Katznelson-Aristide R. Zolberg (eds.),op. cit., Uncertain Transition: Ethnographies ofChangethe in 22 (1996), 117-142. 39 The choice of the two factory case two the of Thechoice (London: Routledge, 2002). 37 and Chris Hann Vision andMethodin Europäische 40 ; for the ; for 29 38 CEU eTD Collection no. 1. (1993), 5-14. ’Überlegungen zu einer Herrschafts- und Gesellschaftsgeschichte der DDR’ der Gesellschaftsgeschichte und Herrschafts- einer zu ’Überlegungen DDR als Geschichte: Fragen-Hypothese-Perspektive Forschung: Aufsätze undStudien Rewriting Post-War German History continuously darkenedprovidenot we We could show this.satisfied this,and attitudes political andtheirwill the political climate.they willThis regardpartly theirholds fulfilled, work andthey fair twoare If things:have honest they that receive these wages. workplace,also for Rába. if not Despite theyours, you arebuilding itfor factory,yourself. This notdid prove true. Peoplethe are interested in two as their is factory the that slogan the people the with motivate “At tried to timeone we own. workers: And then they will only against this buthesought tofind charge tothe anti-manager of an answer attitudes the be interviewpolicy.In never who not histhe Horváth, denied working-class protested origins, andmostbe outrageous pursuingananti-worker thehewaschargedwith unfounded: found to him he that madeagainst clearhimself of accusation the in to order interview the party: since1970he hadbeen Themanagera memberof Central Committee. the agreedto was at the time increasingly attacked for his prominent political rolein the hierarchy theof interview with the chief manager of Rába MVG, Ede Horváth, aformer Stakhanovite, who Workers andsocialist ownership problem traditional of histories. working-class reinforce the second dimension of the make help can therefore to extendedlocal They them comparable. inorder to casestudies approach case method, which seems to be for amore systematic andstructural inevitably call comparisons link. Cross-national a crucial of a macro-micro in establishment isthe precisely method case extended the can “extend” comparison where aspect second The histories. working-class national into insights novel der DDR’ der In 1989 the newly established local journal,opposition Archiv für Sozialgeschichte (Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1993);JürgenKocka-MartinSabrow (eds.)., (New York: Berg Press, 2001); JürgenKocka (ed.), , 39 , (1999), 1-17; ChristophKleßmann (ed.), (Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1994); Sigrid Meuschel, Geschichte und Gesellschaft Tér-kép The Divided Past: Historische DDR- published an , 19, Die 30 CEU eTD Collection (Budapest:Napvilág Kiadó, 1996). and forced industrialization see id., industrialization forced and roots of the Stalinist turn (the abandonment of the NEP – new economic policy – infavorof collectivization különös tekintettel az1920-as évekre the 1920s see: Tamás Krausz, 43 regime in every infactory”. regime every Hungarian the for climate political bad is a there today that fact the for blame to not am I But labor. we wouldlong cheap for forproblem thatheavy completely. time aprice pay Isaid a very solve not this money national wages, wecould in the we pay to honest fact that comparison 42 the attempts of working-class councils to realize the direct ownership of workers. the of ownership direct realize the to councils of working-class attempts the campin Stalinist the Thedefeat era. of Hungarianthe a revolution 1956 put quickof end to socialist from the was“excommunicated” self-management, with workers’ experimented later which Yugaslavia, Tito, and Stalin between clash the Following alternatives. socialist about discussion the closed likewise which countries, European Eastern of “exported” economy, meansof the has been planned production andto the the centrally After the end of the Second World War, the Stalinist system, based on the state ownershipUnion.in least Soviet the at debates, theoretical the end to a rapid put industrialization consolidation Stalin’sof powerandthe political program collectivizationof super- and The revolution. ofthe October victory the after problem practical crucial as a emerged The question of socialist hasbeenlong ownership a debated theoretical issue,which motivation. of a than source rather jokes for political basis served as itlate phase, in the the is “Theslogan yours,you factory for are yourself!”, working even though, particularly everybody knew era silence. socialist In the to regimesought the that socialism existing” effectively by prevented politicalthe regimes, the how todefine question of socialist to the leftist critics of Stalinist society. Even though real research on workers was Debates in the Soviet Union ended with the consolidation of Stalin’s power in the 1930s. On the debates of ‘Beszélgetés Horváth Edével, a Rába MVG vezérigazgatójával’, The relationship between the workers and the party has, of course, remained central In the quoted passage the manager formulated a crucial contradiction of“actually contradiction crucial a managerformulated passage the In quoted the Pártviták történettudomány: és Viták “azorosz fejl (Budapest:Akadémiai Kiadó,1991). For adiscussionof theoreticalthe Szovjet thermidor: Asztálini fordulatszellemi el 42 Tér-kép , 1989. június 1. Ę dés” sajátosságairól, Ę zményei 1917-1928 31 43 CEU eTD Collection Doubleday, 1937). called a new class. Only if they restored the old forms of private property could property relations old of forms the private if restored they Only calleda newclass. of state capitalism, he claimed surplusappropriate social and inequalities.reproduce Even though Trotsky used the term that to them the enabled redistribution nomenklatura of control their but proprietors not were themselves has not yet reached means Thebureaucrats Stalinistthecontrol of the nomenklatura. of the but production, stage to be that, contrary to issue onthe arguing the of property, concentrated Trotsky of revolution. “degeneration” the original Marxistmore ambitiousgoalunderstand the socialto roots of Stalinism whichhe linked with the program, it was bemeantnot afierce to polemicvictorious political his but authorhadthe against the rival, the working class which took famous critique, increasingly 1980s, whichreveal from workers themselves distanced the regime.that the mid in the factories inHungarian fieldwork Burawoy’s of findings main the introduces oftheworkerist support important in the two examinedmarginalized become has self-management of concept the why of overview countries historical brief and how rationalenvisaging thefrom withdrawal support of working-class is party.the This followed bya redistribution criticism, authors’ both to central was proprietorship socialist of lack The dissertation. this functioned, which wasis limited to two authors,an whose theoretical work has especially informed the arguments of discussion the cannot tointroduce chapter debate; undertake this fall. ultimate present The their for developed been have prognoses several and theorized, widely been has societies 45 op. cit.,2005. mainsocial support. Fora discussion of the “workerist” policy of the late Kádár regime see: Mark Pittaway, 44 Leon Trotsky, Leon be its to regarded regime the that class working skilled urban, the on focused party ofthe ideology The The first, theoretically influential “answer” to Stalinism was given by Trotsky inhis Trotsky by given was Stalinism to “answer” influential theoretically first, The The Revolution Betrayed. What isthe SovietUnion and whereis itgoing? The Revolution Betrayed Revolution The 44 ideology of both regimes. Finally, the chapter the Finally, regimes. both of ideology 45 that he wrote in exile. The work was not only (New York: 32 CEU eTD Collection production. means of inchargeof who the were cadres, from party the removed responsibility economy. Itseparated property relations from the control over the means of production and from production sphereof andthe a“valuation vacuum” marketthereby the inthe created relations. The essence of the state socialist system was that the state extracted the means of ownership of meansthe of production removemerely notdid but vacated private property democracy, liquidation the of propertiedthe classand the prohibition of privatethe Social Analysis of ClassStructure Bauman, ’Officialdom and Class -Basesof Inequality Socialistin a Society’, Frank Parkin in: (ed.). because of his explanation of property relations. For acriticism of the socialist cadre class see also: Zygmunt Power Class whichcodified not bylaw,was thus enabling the replacement of inequalities represented ofownership)”. form social the with experimented never has it (since socialist not is it second, and capitalism) itdestroys (since is itanti-capitalist ways:first, intwo relations property negative on based is production of mode a as “Stalinism socialism: state of form first the describe to vacuum was Campenau critiqueintroduced of society.theconcept It Stalinist whoof a property 50 49 Ferdinand Enke, 1972). szemmel Verlaganstalt, 1977.1977); György Bence –János Kis [Mark Rakovski], 1983); Rudolf Bahro, existing” socialism existing” putforward by socialism was Campenau Pavel revolution. of betrayal October the the meant capitalists,have bytheSovietthey would prevented be called people, unless proper which, 47 Krausz, ‘A peresztrojka ésa Tamás tulajdonváltás’,see: in Tamás Krausz- Zoltánperestroika Bíró Sz. (eds.),under op. cit., 2003, property 52-102. about debates of the discussion a For endangered. power political 46 The SyncreticSociety knownexamples see: MilovanDjilas [Gyilasz], 48 Trotsky already forcasted that the nomenklatura would not hesitate to privatize property if they felt their Ibid., 20. Casals, op. cit., 12. Casals [PavelCampenau], Stalinist society was widely criticized by Eastern European intellectuals. To mention just afew well- (Párizs, MagyarFüzetek, 1983); György Konrád-IvánSzelényi, After Trotsky, most original the analysis of underrelations property “actually (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1979). Campenau’s work isdiscussed inmore detail 50 Hence the property vacuum modern Hence property only wasthe the relation,property of type Die Alternative: zur Kritik des realexistierenden Sozialismus 49 under the pseudonym Casals. Since the new system new property Since relations economic thesystem of excluded The Syncretic Society Syncretic The (London: Tavistock,1974); Bálint Balla, The New Class (White Plains, N.Y. : M. E. Sharpe, 46 48 , in , which he offered acomprehensive (San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Brace Harcourt Diego: (San 47 , who published a trilogy entitled A szovjet típusú társadalom marxista The Intellectuals ontheRoad to Kaderverwaltung 1980). (Köln: Europäische (Köln: (Stuttgart: The 33 CEU eTD Collection and the 1956 Hungarian Revolt Kiadó, 2002). From the latest literature see: Charles Gati, New Jersey,ZoltánRipp, 1987); Kiadó, 1969);id., Eszmélet forradalomban’, 1956-1957, 1956 munkástanácsok 1956-ban: Dokumentumok maintain control self-management. workers’ about debates of the factoriescouncils intheHungarian of revolution 1956 gave afresh impetus tothe theoretical even after workers’ the of role The socialism. with Stalinism identify theto refusing while alternative defeat of the revolution, and the Kádárproperty relations. space” of private “empty intothe penetrated state aclassandthe as property owners with vacated relations property of vacuum.Property with removal the was a property the removal of the propertied class and the replacement restructuring: socialisminvolved arepressive instate relations of property transformation of direct, legally protected The labor. buy private to monopoly state’s the about brought thereby production of means the to necessity the sell labor was combined with a prohibition buyingbecause on it. Theinadequate social control over societies Stalinist in production of relations the of definition the the workers were again forced to sell their labor power. opportunitiesThis is for allall citizens the to exercise more control important over the means of production.for Therefore equal have guaranteed mechanism,which would establish institutional “positive” to a allocation. by property private with inequalities the manifested society of in Stalinist informal the 51 On the HungarianOn the working-class councils see:Kemény István -Bill Lomax (eds.), (Budapest: Aura, 1989); EszterZsófia Tóth, ’ACsepel Vas- és Fémm Disappointed withDisappointed manyStalinistsociety, soughtto authors outline socialist another failure its was Stalinism of deficiency important most the Campenau, to According , 2(1989),42-52; János Molnár, Múltunk Múltunk A forradalom el , 4(1999)163-198;Feitl, István ’Parlamentarizmus és önigazgatás az 1956-os , 2 (2005),, 2 231-243;’A magyar id.: munkástanácsok és önigazgatás 1956-ban’,az (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2006). Press, University Stanford (Stanford: 1956.Forradalom és szabadságharc Magyarországon Ę zményei,alakulása ésutóélete. Tanulmányok éskronológia A Nagybudapesti Központi Munkástanács (Párizs, MagyarFüzetek, 1986); Bill Lomax, 51 In many places workers’ councils continued to continued councils workers’ manyplaces In Failed Illusions. Moscow,Washington, Budapest Ħ vek munkástanácsainak története (Budapest:Akadémiai (Budapest: Korona Magyarország (Párizs and Magyar 34 CEU eTD Collection through the satisfaction of the most important working-class demands. (Mark Pittaway,op.cit., 2006). troops. Inaninspiring Soviet article, the to Pittaway resistance armed the argues that in thefactor consolidation crucial a was of class the Kádár regime working of the was possible discontent The 1998). cit., op. Pittaway, (Mark system. the against class working ofthe core skilled experienced, more the turned and policy of early the 1950s overthrew traditionalthe hierarchies based wage skill, on the age and gender inthe factories,In addition, peasantry. the from came workforce recruited newly the of majority overwhelming only against their material pauperizationbut also against collectivizationin the province since the industrialization, argues that the revolutionfound itssocial basis intheworking class,which protested not Eszmélet class demands. class regime could its power consolidate by only satisfying asignificant number of working- 1956-os munkástanácsokról’, 52 cultural funds. council. managerscultural to theenterprise The wereaccountable management of enterprisethe decidedthe and bonusesdistribution of andthesocial and the right had council enterprise of The union committee. trade the of secretary was the The chairperson oversight council. membersof the KISZ wereofficially of the secretary the party and the secretary over issuesmanagers, The two-thirds. other the union delegated andthetrade council membersthe of of economic one thirdthe Employees of elected inmanagement. employees the of participation efficiency,increase the formed to were councils councils, enterprise workers’ the instead of it youth toform “shopquadrangle”, the and Communist wasadded organization (KISZ) received established newly the of Thesecretary union committee. trade of secretary the the reports on and secretary party the management, state of the consisted triangle” “shop The factories. the andof party the control state the secured effectively triangle”,which “shop replace the hadbeen formed Workers’ to councils increase democracy. to enterprise formal attempts For a current debate on the role of the working-class councils in the revolution see: Tamás Krausz, ‘Az Krausz, Tamás see: revolution the in councils working-class of the role the on debate a current For After the official dissolution of the workers’ councils in 1957, there were at least 72(2006), 5-10. Mark Pittaway,who socialstudied Hungarian history periodthe offorcedin 52 Eszmélet 72 (2006),32-38 and László Tüt Ę , ‘1956 mint nyelvi probléma’, 35 CEU eTD Collection how to realize enterprise democracy. See: Aladárné Mód, ‘Munkásismeretek, munkástörekvések, üzemi munkástörekvések, ‘Munkásismeretek, Mód, Aladárné See: democracy. enterprise realize to how Valóság Könyvkiadó, 1983); Csaba Makó, ‘Részvétel: afeladat átalakítása vagy a hatalmi viszonyok átalakítása’, fejlesztésének lehet Kiadó,1980); id., Héthy, Lajos particular: in see democracy enterprise Héthy Héthy – Csaba Makó, építkezésen. (Az érdékérvényesítési képesség problémája)’ képesség érdékérvényesítési (Az építkezésen. HungarianFactory)’ Csaba Makó, ’Work Performance, Interests, Powers and Environment (The Case of Cyclical Slowdowns in a Makó, ’A munkások perspektívái és aszocialista vállalat’ Makó, Csaba – Héthy Lajos See: Munkásmagatartások ésagazdasági szervezet bargaining. successful of ways informal often the and representation 55 29. március 1974. feladatai. továbbfejlesztés ésa érvényesülése Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz committee of Gy 54 approve of appointments.the 53 managers was often a theoretical right that few exercised. people that right a theoretical wasoften managers authorities bythecentral was decided managers of the replacement) (or appointment The union committees. trade of the control union, direct the the as institutionsunder they trade were eventually parallel to placed regarded were they Since formal role. a to reduced soon were they and self-management, state, and thus party and unchallenged. state, factories party thus control of remained the democracy, of enterprise nature scopeand the about discussion academic wasan there The formal role of the trade union in the enterprise management was criticized even in the executive the in even criticized was management enterprise the in union trade the of role formal The Officially, managers the were appointed by the relevant ministries, but the leading party organs had to In Hungary Lajos Héthy and Csaba Makó wrote several studies on the functioning of interest , 22,4 (1979):, no. 14-24. In theperiodical The reality of enterprise councils was, of course, distant from ideas of workers’ ideas of from distant course, of was, councils enterprise of The reality party Ę 1. Shop triangle Shop 1. state leadership Vállalatirányítás ésdemokrácia. Azüzemi demokrácia szociológiai koncepciója és r-Sopron countyr-Sopron (GYML, X.415/134/1,MSZMP Gy Ę The Sociological The Sociological Review Monograph ségei szervezeti-társadalmi viszonyainkban Munkások, érdekek, érdekegyeztetés Ę könyve, napirendi anyagai. Azüzemi demokrácia helyzete, azegyszemélyivezetés trade union trade Figure 1. Two models of enterprise management enterprise of models 1.Two Figure 53 (Budapest: AkadémiaiKiadó, 1972);Lajos Héthy – Csaba and not the trade union; thus, the criticism of the Társadalmi Szemle Az üzemi demokrácia és a munkások , no.123-150; 17(1972), LajosHéthy, ’Bérvita az Társadalmi Szemle (Budapest: Gondolat Kiadó 1978); LajosHéthy- Valóság trade union trade party (Budapest: Közgazdasági és Jogi , 20, 11 (1977),no. 76-88. Concerning 2. Shop quadrangle Shop 2. there was also an extensive debate on debate extensive an also was there Ę , 31,1 no. (1976), 53-63; Lajos r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. 54 55 Although in 1970s the League of Communist state leadership (Budapest: Kossuth Youth 36 CEU eTD Collection Political Science of the Central European University, Budapest), which is in progress. in is which Budapest), University, European Central ofthe Science Political the concept in the period of transformation56 see the Ph. D. – dissertation of Tibor Meszmann (Department of munkások. Beszámolóipari ésaz egy nemzetköziautomatizáció kutatási’Az Makó, program –Csaba menetérHéthy Lajos in: discussed is research The 1975). Kiadványa, Lajos Héthy – Csaba Makó, Makó conducted astudy Rábain MVG about how automationinfluenced working-class consciousness. See: demokrácia’, és tennivalóinkat?’ Társadalmi Szemle Szemle munkája’, Társadalmi Szemle, 33,1 (1978), no. 67-69; Társadalmi Szemle 11 32, no. (1977),76-80; IstvánFerenczi, ’Azüzemi demokrácia:fokozott társadalmi ellen Társadalmi Szemle 32, no.12(1977), 70-72;János Fehér, ’Diósgy Szemle 67; MártonBúza, ’Azüzemi demokrácia érvényesítése:a gazdasági vezet (1977),10, 99-101; id.’Munkahelyi demokrácia és nyilvánosság’, bérezési döntésekben. (Kutatói tapasztalatok a MagyarVagon és Gépgyárban)’, gyakorlásában?’, Társadalmi Szemle Társadalmi Szemle, Társadalmi Szemle kérdéséhez’ fejlesztésének demokrácia Azüzemi üzemben. az egység cselekvési és a érdekegyeztetés szocialista brigádmozgalomról’, útján. (Az eszmecsere befejezéséhez)’ eszmecsere (Az útján. érdekegyeztetés’ az üzemi demokráciát?’ these debates. these than the tradition of Poland and but had Yugoslavia since lessthey influence even examinedon the two the cases workers’ councils, in with experimented andpartly discussed Stalinistsociety were widely to alternatives the present chapterrestoration omits the introduction“returning capitalism,without to” in was published Hungary in only 1988,when the of ofprivate society more democratic establish a could producers control of direct the property argued that relations was already on the political agenda. Socialist ‘Eszmecsere a párttagokkal’, demokrácia (Kutatási tapasztalatok)’, least among the political slogans and was discussed even in the executive committee of the György philosopher,Lukács, they become well known at the shop-floor. The programmatic essay of the famous did nor Marxist themselves, workers the reached debates these that is noevidence there circles, and Forthe discussionof the Polish and Yugoslavian debates about self-management as well as the afterlife of , 33,, 4 (1978), no. 95-97; Jen , 32,, 9(1977),67-71; no. János Marosi, ’Nem csakagazdasági vezet The concept of workers’ was discussedintellectual inThe conceptof self-managementnarrow only workers’ Társadalmi Szemle 56 Társadalmi Szemle, While in Hungary the improvement of While of democracy enterprise inHungary appeared at improvement the , 32, 9 (1977),no.8l-85; György Akszentievics,érdekelt’Ki hogyan azüzemidemokrácia , 34, (1979),no. 5 48-59;György munkások’HogyanlátjákGergely, a üzemigondjainkat , 33,, no. 3(1978), 69-75;Tibor Folkmayer, ’Üzemi demokrácia és tervezés’, , 32, no. 12 (1977), 12 , 32,no. 72-74;Pálné Vitkovics,üzemi demokrácia ’Az ésapártszervezet , 32,, 5 no. (1977),58-67; László Horváth, ’Üzemi demokrácia ésvállalatistratégia’, Társadalmi Szemle 32, no.9(1977), 72-77;Csaba Egerszegi, ’Termelési tanácskozás és üzemidemokrácia’, Társadalmi Szemle Társadalmi Szemle, Az automatizáció és a munkástudat Társadalmi Szemle, , 33,2 , no.(1978), 79-84. Itshould be Lajosnoted that Héthy Csabaand Társadalmi Szemle Ę Demokratisierung heute undmorgenDemokratisierung Andics – Tamás Rozgonyi, konfliktusok’A vállalati ésahatékonyság’, Társadalmi Szemle 32, no. 10,(l977), 94-99; Ágnes Simonyi,’Munkásrészvétel üzemi , 34, no. 9 (1979),János 9 , 34,no. 41-47; Rózsa,’Napjaink kérdése: üzemi az , 34,2 (1979),, no. 26-35; id.,’Azüzemi demokráciafejlesztésének Társadalmi Szemle Társadalmi 32, no. 9 (1977),32,’A no. gazdasági 64-66;id., munkapártirányításaés Ę ri munkásoküzemiri az demokráciáról’, 31, no. 2(1976), 15-25; Lajos Héthy,’Hogyan látjuk ma az György Marle, ’Az üzemi demokrácia és atermelés’, demokrácia üzemi ’Az Marle, György , 32,, no. 4.(1977), 9-16; Csaba Makó, ’Az , 33,, 6(1978),52-64; no. Edit S , 29,no. 11(1974),53-63; Imre Katona, (Budapest: MTA Szociológiai Kutató Intézet Ę l’, Társadalmi Szemle, Szociológia Ę k dolga…’ Ę , 2(1972),262-273. k kötelessége’, Társadalmi Szemle (1968),in he which 33,1 (1978), no. 59- Társadalmi Szemle Társadalmi Társadalmi Szemle Ę tér, ’Gondolatok tér, a Társadalmi Társadalmi , 32, no. Ę rzés’, 37 , , CEU eTD Collection 59 1969). prevented any public discussion of socialist alternatives to their system. because thepolitical effectively workers inregimes bethe consciousness of embedded the not could self-management of idea the society, Stalinist of criticism of tradition intellectual an was there though even that argued be can it cases both In management. enterprise in county,no evidence is of thestructure GDRthere any of of criticism existing the 58 concept. the with unfamiliar were partners interview the of majority the directly, 57 socialism. state class under anewruling whowere becoming intellectuals the but bureaucrats, housing of example the mainbeneficiaries. György Konrád and Iván Szelényi studiedredistribution state through be the to claimed were they though even redistribution state of policy the from benefited workerist ideology of the regime. In practice, however, it was often not the workers, who automatically, as are the heads of all the larger regional administrative organs of party and party of organs largerregional administrative the heads of all the asare automatically, is member almost a party headquarters chief at section and Every secretary Committee. in of Central part the sessions the takes rulingmember of the elite representative “Every Committee: Central the of constitution the of description good a give authors aslawsThe parliament. bythe wereadopted consequences necessary The legal order. did fitnot in thatformalized wereresolutions within a of Central Committee decisions the The party. the body of executive highest Bureau,the Political the elected that Committee the party, hidden placeconflictingin interests andtheyarguedthattheir took the representation forums of from the of existence the recognized authors the time same the At others. the of expense at the public sphere.increaseits had it share achanceto thereby and of mechanisms redistribution the rational The highest political forum was the Central György Konrád-Iván Szelényi,op. cit.,1979. Iván Szelényi –György Konrád, –György Szelényi Iván asked When interviews. the in mentioned even not was alternative apossible as self-management Workers’ In principle, rational redistribution could have provided for a strong support of forIn principle, astrongsupportof havecould provided rational the redistribution 59 They described the party-state as one in which the new ruling class controlled class ruling new the which in one as party-state the described They 58 , which led them to make the provocative case that it the was not that make case theprovocative ledthem to , which Az új lakótelepekszociológiai problémái (Budapest:Akadémiai Kiadó, 57 38 CEU eTD Collection with thisbook.His fieldwork is introduced inmore detail in: Michael Burawoy- János Lukács,op.cit., 1992. exploited had not disappeared in the socialist system. (Miklós Haraszti, op. cit., 1979). Burawoy was familiar worker in a admitted to factory,Hungarian factories. In1972, Haraszti’s book, grew which out experience of his as an unskilled triggered63 51-98. a show-trialosztályhatalomhoz against the 62 authorVörös Báró? because hedescriptionof the contemporaryargued political leadership see his autobiographical book: Ede Horváth, that the61 feeling of being Hungary. in stratification social for important increasingly hadbecome economic activities private contraryrevisited totheir that participationin bySzelényi,whoargued expectations, time when market relations increasingly penetrated the economy. the penetrated increasingly relations market time when in his enterprise. of favor resources allocation aboutthe of central Committeeplayeddecisions ininfluencing arole Central the of a member also Rába was of manager chief the that fact the interests: economic and political of intertwining the shows it as insofar my research for isrelevant model hegemonic, in which the workers were tied to the enterprise by the “rational” tyranny of tyranny “rational” by enterprisethe weretied tothe workers inwhich the hegemonic, he called despotism that of anewtype of emergence the heobserved advanced capitalism In prevailed coercion. over in consent which regimes, hegemonic with were replaced capitalism early of regimes thedespotic that Heargued countries. for socialist regimes Hungarianthe casein study his totest order general theory of factory developmentthe of significance”. national of decisions in redistributive part can take reason for that and power ofsignificant office dispose by of their reason present who arepolice; all those least thechiefs of and army andnot the of heads largerenterprises, the television, the the Academy),president of the Nationalthe Bank and theeditor-in-chief director of the (from the Statistical national scope of organ andministry theheads administrative every of state, Office to the secretary of of every daily, the directors of the state radio and 60 The general change of the political climate could have been one reason of why a Western researcher was researcher Western of why a reason one been have could climate political of the change general The IvánSzelényi, ‘A kelet európai újosztály stratégia távlatai és korlátai: Horváth himself admitted that politicalhis contacts contributed to successhis as a manager. For his Ibid . , 166. The British sociologist Michael Burawoy undertook hisfieldwork in Hungary at the 62 (Pécs: SzikraNyomda,1990), 52-71. önkritikus felülvizsgálata.’ inid., 61 The thesis of the new ruling class was, however, later Új osztály, állam, politika 63 (Budapest,Európa, 1990), He was interested in interested He was Az értelmiség útja az Én volnék a 60 The 39 CEU eTD Collection 67 management. (Lajos Héthy-Csaba Makó, op. cit. likewise proved workers that in key couldpositions successfully build upa group to exert pressure on the in search of a better job or toseek promotion to the core”. (Michael Burawoy,op. cit. 189). Héthy workers.and Makó Among the peripheral other to comparison workers in oneofficials could union trade find theand party young among and unskilled overrepresented were “whosethey and only jobs, paid hope is to leave better- given were They process. production the in positions key occupied who group, first the constituted 66 counterpart. consentthe in of tomaintain workers the productionorder its continuous than hegemonic 65 Verso, 1985). of surplus under socialism than under capitalism. consciousness appropriate the andstruggle control to productionover the and distribution organized”. than be rather torepressed tend They into others.therefore over spill arena easily anddespotism state struggles sothat beginin arecontinuous, factory politics which one bureaucratic politics “under wereseparated, state and whereproduction despotism politics were settledinformally as a result of negotiations behind closed doors. Contrary to market covert disputes between were labor and and work conflicts state management; the the thus, the to admitted were organizations union trade and theparty latter, the eliminate To labor. of struggles the and repressed process production the directly regulated state enterprise. their of closing the prevent to wage cuts to agreed voluntarily they when were cases there and rivals, as fellow-workers their saw workers increased: labor of division internal unions. of The as trade weakening representation traditional ofinterestsuch forms the with This continents. the or wasparalleled countries to other transfer of production the prevent to order in capital the to concessions made willingly they and mobility capital 64 Michael Burawoy,op. cit., 197. workers skilled male experienced, older, The workers. peripheral and core between distinguished Burawoy Ibid Michael Burawoy, Michael . , 181. Burawoy argued that a similar development took placetook a similarwhere socialism the Burawoy arguedthat under development 64 65 66 Burawoy, however, argued that bureaucratic despotism had a greater needforbureaucratichad Burawoy,arguedthatdespotism agreater however, He indeed predicted that workers were more likely to recover asocialistlikely weremore to workers that Heindeedpredicted The Politics ofProduction:The Politics Factory Regimes underCapitalism and Socialism , 1978). 67 (London: 40 CEU eTD Collection politically inactive and consequently more defenseless in societies. new,capitalist morethe defenseless andconsequently inactive politically regimes have,regimes in fact, mentioned studyargues the communist theses,the By developing two that above the the socialist system, which was reflected in their jokes and casual remarks about politics.published after the change of regimes, reveals that his fellow workers no longer believed in fieldwork account, party the said. of Burawoy’s believe what to opposite the choose rather propaganda mostlyineffectivebecause andindeed counter-productive would people the communist life of rendered everyday ideology reality the and socialist the between gap The recognition increasing the of from people. theworking distanced “cadres” the countries.communicate with Theparty’s failure to workingthe classincreasingly reform followed of plannedeconomies the closing bythe was of ina social both dialogue dysfunction The party rational substitute. offeredof whichthe them as redistribution, isthe second the and consciousness ownership lack of workers’ isthe one first the market than self-management. ideology of more tothe susceptible were short to explain why the workers withdrew their support from the system and why they as one going on between competing groups intellectuals. as onegoing between of on groups competing intendintelligentsia, didinterferenot in and the they workers to a struggle that understood the new ruling class argueto that there was a great social gulf between the workers and the thesis the of Fuller adopted regimestudy of sociological GDRLinda inthe of change the working class did not defend the workers’ state, remains, however, a valid one. In her the opposite happened of what he expected in Eastern Europe. in Eastern he expected happened of what opposite the 142. 70 69 68 Seeparticular chapter in the ‘Painting socialism’ Michaelin Burawoy-János Lukács, 1992, op.cit., 111- Linda Fuller, op. cit., 1999. Michael Burawoy-János Lukács, op. cit., 1992. The present study focuses on two theoretical arguments that itdevelop:intends focuses that to study The present theoretical arguments two on Burawoy his self-critically thatBurawoy later recognized prognosis and waswrong infact weakened the socialist consciousness of the workers rendering labor rendering workers the of consciousness socialist the 69 This thesis, however, falls 68 The question of whythe of Thequestion 41 70 CEU eTD Collection három hulláma’, (Budapest:Közgazdasági és Jogi Könyvkiadó, 1982);András Bródy, ‘Agazdasági mechanizmus bírálatának performance and operation inefficientthe industry mid-1960s.of state-owned during the economists anda leadershipexport party growing poor within over concern the Hungary: The Rise and Fall of Feasible Socialism Hungarian Economic Reforms 1953-1988 kis-és középüzemek szerepér középüzemek kis-és gazdasági mechanizmus reformja ( ( mechanism context. national larger a in studies case individual the of analysis an enabling similar, partly different partly the themodelsintroduces between from – also the differences apart highlighting environments ofseek the to outline.two examined The overview chapters state-owned two following the that contexts national for thedifferent of starting point important the economic andenterprises, social policiessolve of thusthe two countries centrally – GDR the opposite even can be in Honecker’s economy, the of control state observed: of decrease the on the concentrated were reforms housing the state extended of social the provisions citizens. and promised to Reform processes thus constitute an continued in influenced 1980s,the which the existing social structure. sector 1968,theextension private the of Hungarian moreof the reform of radical program contexts of the socialist national introduce the countries to two inthe processes reform of the trajectories different system. Even though the givechapters seekof following tooverview an two welfarethe dictatorships, the there was a partial retreat from the initial,The beginning ofmarketsocialismin Hungary mechanizmusban’, 72 71 On Hungary’s below. new developed is argument The economic mechanism see: Tamás Bauer, ‘A vállalatok ellentmondásos helyzete az új Decidedimplemented uponin Hungary’s 1966and1968, neweconomic As the dissertation distinguishes between the reformist and collectivist models of models collectivist and reformist the between distinguishes dissertation the As új gazdasági mechanizmus Közgazdasági Szemle Közgazdasági Szemle Ę l’, Gazdaság Budapest:Kiadó,KossuthRitter Jolán Pappné- 1968); Lászlóné Tüü, ‘A , 30,, 7-8 no. (1983),802-807. In Englishsee:T.Berend, Iván , 22,6 (1975),725-735;, no. Rezs (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990);Nigel Swain, , 2,2,, (1968), no. 12-25; IvánSchweitzer, ) emerged out of an extensive discussion among (London and New York: Verso, 1992). Ę Nyers, Gazdaságpolitikánk a és 71 While in Hungary A vállalatnagyság 42 72 CEU eTD Collection Könykiadó, 1980). 1957). For his famous criticism of the socialist economy see: id., Kornai gave a theoretical criticism of over-centralization prior to Liberman. to prior over-centralization of criticism theoretical a gave Kornai the market than did the new economic system of the GDR. The Hungarian economist János morewas it not later, concessionsgranted to targeted butdecentralization only adopted at reform by inspired theLiberman’s suggestions, Hungarian economic reform, albeit an economic implement to first the GDR was While the countries. European Eastern in plan. the specified rawquantities than the rather value produced value goods premiums to of to tie second heproposed andbytheenterprises, 74 House, 1966). SocialistDiscussion ARecentEconomic Economy: onthe USSR Reforms inthe Wissenschaft und Politik, 1968), 115. See also: Evsei Liberman, Maurice Dobb et al., werenot andtheenterprises of enterprise, every andreserves capacities production the couldhave not of because apparatus thecentral was dysfunctional aclearpicture planning which argued, that the system of the allocation of the tasks to the ministries and enterprises outlined the economists reform-minded factories!” for the must beuseful for society is useful “What and measures!” administrative of tutelage petty from thefactories the “Let’s liberate in slogans: two his summarized proposals Liberman in 1962, to strengthen he which profitability proposed of centrally the planned economy. economist, Evsei G. Liberman entitled “Plan, profit, premium” published in published premium” profit, “Plan, entitled Liberman G. Evsei economist, economy. The reform discourse Khrushchev,in which enabledthe the public criticism of theSoviet shortcomings of the over-centralized Union under thaw Soviet the with startedlinked closely was it time; the at with phenomenon Hungarian the article of the Soviet The discussion of the reform of the planned economy was, of course, not a unique Karl C. Thalheim-Hans-Hermann Höhmann (eds.), Höhmann C. Thalheim-Hans-Hermann Karl 73 János Kornai, Liberman’s article is quoted in: Gert Leptin, ‚Das „Neue ökonomische System” Mitteldeutschlands’ in Mitteldeutschlands’ System” ökonomische „Neue ‚Das Leptin, Gert in: quoted is article Liberman’s The Liberman discussion initiated a wave of reform discussions throughout the A gazdasági vezetés túlzott központosítása 73 By the first he meant an increase in the autonomy of the individual the of autonomy in the increase an meant he first By the Criticism ofourpresent economic management, Wirtschaftsreformen inOsteuropa (Budapest:Közgazdasági és Jogi Könykiadó, A hiány A (Budapest: Közgazdasági és Jogi (New Delhi: People’s Pub. Theory ofProfit in (Köln: Verl. (Köln: 74 Pravda In1965 in 43 CEU eTD Collection feature of the new economic mechanism is that it enables the economic competition of the of competition it economic the enables is that mechanism economic new of the feature important “An would relations: restoring capitalist without performance that economic the improve enterprises the among competition limited a be would there that envisaged was It effect. hada leveling eventually which enterprises, of the taxation prices and importantthe rightof appointing the management.Indirect control was established through retained state the others, amongst challenged; however werenot, rights proprietary state’s part of profits,the anddistribution themanagerscould decidethe bonuses.The the of to make tactical decisions. To stimulate the enterprises, oflabor. from social the differed costs the state system of largelycentral pricing observing that the prices and economically unreasonably allowed them to retain decidedby central authorities”. the will of the thewrong of of ‘reflection’ theincrease facilitates living standardof reality is the that it we every for everything responsible andhardship.Since centrally,mistake regulate are bodies leading higher the that view harmful politically the confirms it hand, other how actautonomously,forgetto how toinitiateaccount thingsfor themand andto on the they hand, one the on people: the of consciousness the on impact negative a has allocation pointed out the politicalBesides giving asharp critique of management, existingthe system document the of also dangers of ininterested increasing better efficiency and thethesatisfaction of consumers’ demands. over-centralized economy: “The system of plan határozatai dokumentumai és 1963-1966. gazdaságirányítási rendszer(1965. reformjára november18-20). 75 criticism see: Ota Šik, 77 76 premiums. and awards governmental receive and plan the over-fulfil can it sothat exchange in output minimal promised and investment maximal get centre demandedThe game. the productionofinput-output an maximalas outputeconomy with command theof the smallesttrap possible interest input. the The enterprise described Šik tried 1967). to Press, Sciences ’Jelenlegi gazdaságirányításunk kritikája’, in: Az MSZMP Központi Bizottságának kiinduló irányelvei a Ibid. 243. ’Jelenlegi gazdaságirányításunk kritikája’, op. cit., 242. The reform increased the autonomy of the enterprises and the managers’ authority managers’ andthe enterprises the of autonomy the increased The reform Plan and market under Socialism Budapest:Kossuth Könyvkiadó, 237-247.a similar 1978,For 77 76 The document was also critical of the (White Plains, N. Y.: International Arts and A Magyar Szocialista Munkáspárt 44 75 CEU eTD Collection political contacts were also frequently used to secure state werealsosubventions.frequently The tosecurestate central used political contacts production, it would lead to shortage in the domestic economy. couldproduct be made moreinvestmentprofitable with and if that they theirstopped any arguethat wouldmanagers typically The supply. of the responsibility contradicted make requirement often profits the to that indicated Schweitzer already Iván incentives, of and change products. the improvement technological satisfaction finance demands(responsibility the of supply),ithadof the to and socialthe withinneeds for products the its profile (responsibility planning)of and the of determination the for was responsible The enterprise management. responsibility the of and theauthority increase and reducebureaucracy expectedto production was almost absolute lack of small companies. The grand-scale concentration of the means of a new emerged 1964 that industrial structure bygiantenterprises and an characterized “experimental” enterprise concentration was followed by a retreat, and it was only in 1962- structural transformation of industry the had been on agendathe since 1958but the The management. economic of re-organization the with linked also was it reform, buyers’of and needs”. satisfaction the improvement of technical increase efficiency, the initiative, of enterprise development the our planned economy. This limited competition has, nevertheless, a special significance for (concentration and specialization distribution)of and production of andthe socialistnature limited.course, is limited It by level the of developmentthe of productivethe forces socialist and it enterprises competeurges them in to This is, market. the competition of 80 79 78 Ibid. 47-54. IvánSchweitzer, op. cit., 39-47. Ibid. 318. Even though the increase of enterprise autonomy was an important element of the of element important an was autonomy enterprise of increase the though Even Although the re-organization of economic management increased therole ofmarket of Although management re-organization the economic 78 79 80 String-pulling and 45 CEU eTD Collection personnel of the factory outside regular working hours. VGMK-s often VGMK-s contracts hours. received often personnel working factory the regular outside of and enterprises infrastructure using the infactprivate were which of enterprise), the called VGMK-s ( called VGMK-s introduction of nine forms of small business. The reform allowed the formation of the so- these became the ever expanding bases of the development of the private sector. against 1970s attacks wererenewed the agricultural industries subsidiary againandagain, by retailers very in private limited competition the created Although and craftsmen. the state industrial and service companies in domesticthe marketsignificantly more than the towards industrialthe whichand servicesectors, influenced thecompetitive position of the expand to started ofagriculture framework the economy within private activities. The possible,carry production,industrial which out agricultural but not did and service industrialof itmade developmentof ownership, within the agricultural co-operatives units economy ( indicated the real significancereverse which process, the not This,however, did in aretreat. resulted inCzechoslovakia of theintervention Soviet the and reform:reform over party the of division growing the but the planned been legal extension of the second or private effect. marketincentiveswithin have argued thatcould only structure enterprise alimited the complained subventionsthe attheir that weredistributed expense. enterprises profitable fierce criticism; to subject thus was resources the of allocation enterprises and the central bodies see: Erzsébet Szalai, Erzsébet see: bodies central the and enterprises prevent reform initiatives orthe cuts of subventions. For adiscussionof the relationbetween the giant 81 nagyvállalatiérdekek átszervezés a 80-as években Giant enterprises could at the same time represent significant bargaining power, and they could effectively could they and power, bargaining significant represent time same the at could enterprises Giant The second major marketThe secondmajorreform came in the government1982 when authorized the Within the framework of the new economic mechanism more radical reforms had reforms radical more mechanism economic new the of framework the Within második gazdaság vállalati gazdaságimunkaközösség = (Budapest:Közgazdasági és Jogi Könyvkiadó,Éva Voszka, 1989); (Budapest:Közgazdasági és Jogi Könyvkiadó,1988). ).Although the 1968 economic reform the1968 entaileconomicnot ).Although did reform a concept Gazdasági mechanizmus, reformtörekvések és economic communities productive 81 It can Itbe therefore Reform és 46 CEU eTD Collection Gazdasági fejl period between 19871978 and ascompared to the dataof the period between1958 and 1978 (Károly Lóránt, production, gross the productionvalue ofproducts, agricultural wage/person) real showed the a decline in 84 83 1987). Gondolat, largest impact on social stratification after occupation. impact social on stratification largest sociological survey led found by Kolosi Tamás that private economy the had thesecond towander theprivate enterprises. away to expertise started the sector, in than state higher the economy considerably were in private salaries the Since sector. state to the adjunct asasignificant operated economy second insofar asthe “mixed” economy socialist a already was Hungary 1980s In the factories. own from their 82 economic program did not differ radically from radically differ not did program economic contract whenreforms.market explainsthat democratic This the opposition published country of the performance economy. the private accessto had positions better state inhigher because people inequalities increase social in fact, The did, redistribution.reform state of inequalities the “correct” itwould that argued reformers the in theparty, hardliners the of resistance the overcome To controversies. political fierce to subject time the at was reform market Hungarian the expansion of the private sector, there was no proposal for the privatization of the large the of privatization the for proposal no was there sector, private the of expansion the today’s program the anythingperspective, Although butradical.was was there a callfor shouldmanaged from (enterprises below). bythe be councils From enterprise elected and decentralization sector private of the expansion the ownership, and private) reform program of 1986. According to study the of the Lóránt,Károly development of economicindexes (GDP, industrial Iván Szelényi, op. cit Tamás Kolosi, The second economy impacted on social stratification as well. In 1981 a national 1981 a well. In as stratification social on impacted economy The second From From indebtedness deteriorating economic late1970sthegrowingthe and in 1987, in which they outlined the conditions of a democratic reform, their 83 Ę désünk kritikus kérdései 1968-1988 Tagolt társadalom: Struktúra, rétegz . , 1990. Social contract 84 urged to search reformersthe more for pronounced pro- calledfor alegal of mixedthe recognition (state , Budapest:, Társadalomtudományi 1989). Intézet, Ę dés, egyenl Property and reform, Ę tlenség Magyarországo 82 The interpretation of the of interpretation The the communist the n (Budapest:n Social 47 CEU eTD Collection Honecker’s welfare program, the first being important because one chapter studies the studies because onechapter beingimportant first the program, welfare Honecker’s intertwined with itspolicy, labor seeks chapter tooutline this Ulbricht’s reform and population lastingcould ensure Since support. thesocial was policy of inseparably state the generousthe socialand maintainingpolicy of to state the aregular supplyof the goods increasingshortages because of experiment fall.and mounting generated hissubsequent The reform social discontent social needs citizens,the includingof werepreceded housing, by Ulbricht’s reform From reform toretreat: the GDRunder late socialism legislation, which propelled the property reform towards an outright change of system. 87 koncepciók és történelmi valóság’,Politikai op. cit., 2003,73. tulajdonváltás: a és peresztrojka ‘A Krausz, Tamás owner?”. private the employer the “is naivety in economic issues was revealed in his question to Miklós Németh, the Prime Minister of Hungary: 86 income. Németh announced that capital related income was of equal value to labor related of “mixed”the in economy favor of property.private In 1988, Prime Minister Miklós concept the abandoneddemocratic opposition communists reform the and the 1988, both that the opposition at that time agreed with thiswith program. timeagreed atthat theopposition that on behalf of the democratic opposition, according to Csizmadia there is no reason to doubt management. Although some critics later argued that laterargued Although management. some critics self- direction the workers’ of to pointed 1956,which councils of workers’ the example of modeled on the democratize councils was the enterprise demand to enterprises. The state 85 See the chapter on The Act The VIof onBusiness 1988 Organizations enabled the employment of upto 500 people. Gorbachev’s Ervin The establishment of the Honecker regime and its program of providing for the With the weakening of the Soviet control the reform took a different direction. By Csizmadia (ed.): 86 The announcement of the Prime Minister was followed by a change of Reform and Retreat A magyar demokratikus ellenzék 1968-1988 ( 87 , and Honecker and his supporters came to believe came that supporters his to Honeckerand, and . Social contract 85 Budapest:T-Twins, 1995). was a strategic step wasa strategic 48 CEU eTD Collection introduced in Leptin, op. cit., is 113-115. affair The theses. their revise and self-criticism practice to forced were authors both however, time, money relations should be more fully exploited and the value principle should be givena greater role. At that Benary published two articles in the journal 90 Vergleich zwischen Planungseuphorie undkulturellem Wandel: DDR, 1960s the GDRthe in see also Heinz-Gerhard Haupt (ed). Economic System of Socialism (EES), ( 176-188; Ferenc Fejt Sixth Party 1963. inDecember Sixth Congress Party Verl., 1990),247-253; Steiner, André a népgazdasági tervezés és irányítás új rendszerér Effizienz- und Machtkalkül a decline in the previous years even in the light of official statistics: the national income national the statistics: official of light the in even years previous in the a decline improve the export performance of the country. The economic indexes of the GDR showed to in order mainly policy price realistic more a and incentives economic more introduce financialstructure, toincrease responsibility autonomy and to and enterprises, thethe of (NES), ( name of theeuphemistic somewhat the bore which New experiment, reform the Economicannounced Ulbricht Union, System of trajectory. amore controversial ittook Planning and Managing the People’scontext for the examination of the study of the labor policyEconomy of the district and the factory. effect of the reform on the district Jochen Cerny NÖS. DiewirtschaftlichenEntscheidungen 1967/68 –Ausgangspunkt derKrisenprozesse 1969/70?’in (Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press, 1978), 61-84; Gert Leptin, (ed.), Legters H. Lyman in System’, NewEconomic of the Fall and Rise ‘The Keren, Michael see: NES the on literature For reform. the mention prevented communicationwithin the socialist camp. After Ulbricht’s fall the GDR sources do not even there is very little contemporary literature onthe NES, which shows that the ideological discipline effectively 89 88 The Zeiss factory belonged to the district of Gera (today Thuringia). (today of Gera district the to belonged factory Zeiss The The criticism of the Stalinist economy appeared also in the GDR prior to Liberman. In 1957 Behrens and Even though the Hungarian reform of enterprise management has much in common with the GDR reform, GDR the with common in much has management of enterprise reform Hungarian the though Even The reform of the planned economy in the GDR started earlier than in Hungary and (Weilerswist: Velbrück-Wissenschaft, 2004). das Neue ökonomische System der Planung undLeitung das Neue Planung ökonomische System der (ed.), Brüche, Krisen,Brüche, Wendepunkte: Neubefragungen vonDDR-Geschichte( Ę , A népi demokráciák története (Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1999). In Hungarian see: Günter Manz, ‘Tapasztalatok Die DDR- Wirtschaftsreform der sechziger Jahre: Konflikt zwischen The German Democratic Republic: A Developed Socialist Society 88 and the Zeiss factory, while the second provides a Wirtschaftswissenschaft 89 Inspired Liberman in bythe the Sovietdiscussion 90 das Ökonomische System des Sozialismus Ę The reform sought to re-organize the enterprise re-organize the to sought Thereform l azNDK-ban’, , 2.volume, (Budapest: Magvet Aufbruch indie Zukunft: die1960er Jahre ý op. cit., 1968; Steiner, André ‘Abkehrvom SSR undBundesrepublikDeutschland im Közgazdasági Szemle inwhich they thatargued product- the ), later renamed the Ę , 1991), 178-182., 1991), On , 12, no. 2 (1965), 12, no. , Leipzig: Urania- Leipzig: ) at the 49 CEU eTD Collection specificinputslimits neither desire, fornor detailed targetshadappear in output to the functioning of the supply freedom of This assignedtargets. action production the within tothe wasclosely related mechanism: for any materialmuch providewider enterprisesa with the wasto Another partof indevolution 1967. balance for which theenterprises were responsible for nearlytop 90% of the balances and thehad delegation went further no Planningbalanced bythe andCommission State By the ministries. (SPC) 1966 the to alarge extent, delegated to the enterprises. In 1963, nearly a quarter of all balances were production-cum-final-usesa given whether checked which balance, material the was mechanism supply material planthe was consistent. of tool A basic hierarchy. in the The bodies subordinate to administration mechanism supply material the of of these balances was,economic and financial autonomy of the enterprises; the NES delegated many of the chores within theirand work research profile. whichimprovement production,trusts”, so-called the the for were responsible “socialist enterprises, large state of creation the meant structure enterprise the reform of GDR. The that the NES was a socialist system adapted to the specific needs and conditions of the the society must be useful for every socialistfactory and its employees” “whatisfor useful that and out enterprises” pointing state-owned the over “petty tutelage in 1958 andonly in 2% 1962. increasedby in 1958,4,5%in 11% 1960 and 2,1% in investments increased1962; by 12% Einheitspartei Deutschlands. 92 Deutschender Demokratischen Republik 1962 (Ost-Berlin, 1962), 282. Cited in Leptin, op. cit., 112. JahrbuchDeutschender Demokratischen Republik 1960/61 (Ost-Berlin, 1961), 302;Statistisches Jahrbuch 91 (Iván Schweitzer, op. cit.). 93 WalterUlbricht: Das Programm des Sozialismus und die geschichtliche Aufgabe derSozialistischen Statistisches JahrbuchDeutschender Demokratischen Republik 1958(Ost-Berlin, 1959), 272;Statistisches Schweitzer described a similar enterprise structure in Hungary without referring to the GDR experiences GDR the to referring without Hungary in structure enterprise similar a described Schweitzer While Ulbrichtusedphrases resonantwith Liberman’s slogans, condemning the Neues Deutschland 91 93 , Berlin, 16.1.1963. Cited in Leptin, op. cit., 116. The increased the legal,like in reform, Hungary, 92 ), he maintained he ), 50 CEU eTD Collection new economic system rested. Specific misfortunes hastened the fall of the reform: in the reform: the of fall the hastened misfortunes Specific rested. system economic new upset products, fragilethe balancebetween central planning anddevolution,which on the of largestate 1969 and which andinvestments resources on 1970, concentrated priority economy, considered tobe crucial for export-driven growth. The taut and unbalanced plans which introduced, of indeedplanningcertain planning sectors the centralized the was of which attempted to adjustwhich attempted to the prices tothesocial labor, wascompletedof costs in 1967. reform, Theindustrial price workers. the of average wages the not and wagefunds, the was a spectacular result in comparison with the provisos “lean years”. “lean provisos with the in comparison result was aspectacular of period NESwhenthe GDReconomy the achieved an whichrate of annul growth 5%, not too ambitious and taut. According tohis analysis, this was precisely the case in the first centralized system can ifwork, at all, only with reasonable reserves, i.e. with plans that are Keren explains with devolutiona apparent contradiction this in that argument the year meantnot of 1968 only heyday the NES butalsothe of thebeginning of end. the the NES, enterprises received fewer directions on the composition of before. than of sales on the composition fewer directions received enterprises NES, the of plan. included In products The1967plan heyday strategic only importance. 1968,the of 95 94 were euphemistically called bonuses,about make they and were encouragedto use of incentives economic the (which productivity, the and optimal materials.managersuse of The received afree hand todecide labor price, cost, profit, such as criteria qualitative with replaced ideology) was ton- called (the so- quantitative approach part of The profit. the a significant couldenterprises retain innovation),and research, the for investment, freely (e.g. relatively they that use could funds center from the received Managers in economy. planned competition the increase There was even a talk of the “red economic miracle”. Michael Keren, op. cit. 70. cit. op. Keren, Michael miracle”. economic “red of the a talk even was There Michael Keren, op. cit., 64-65. According to one of the most original analysts of the reform, Michael Keren, the Devolution was linked with attemptthe to change themanagerial approach and ökonomische Hebel ökonomische ): in only regulated ): center 1969-1970 the 95 In1968priority 94 51 CEU eTD Collection enough consumers’ goods inenough consumers’ goods shops.In the situation, this Keren argues, party the could not increased working were class, while there also of the theincome work Overtime NES. towin overtothe wages inorder them increase the workers’ agreedto eventually Another problem was thathad evento dothough everything the reform who reformers,of the position the weakened undoubtedly in Czechoslovakia intervention started to distance with a wage Soviet The upheaval. economic the than leadership party motive the for a stronger stop, the thenew regime economic system from thetwo days before the publication of the plan. Czech reforms. resigned Ulbricht years. previous the over neglect had suffered that sectors intermediate investment target was set, priority wasin cut samethe September; at timeslacken itwas decidedto the given Alower1971-75 plan. to investments in electrical powerfollow his program. economic Tautness was given were up when some 1970plantargets and other Fearingproducts. ageneral social leadership,upheaval, party however, the refused to on priority resources the of concentration the for called still Ulbricht address, economic NESthe he that consideredlife’s As his work. lateas January inmajor hislast1971, reform brought about the political fall of Ulbricht, whoinsisted on the maximal program of werenot fulfilled.low of even plan goods consumer the targets receivedhigh priority, projects Since fulfillment.structure-determining in arrears contract harsh winter of 1969 the shortage of electricity manycaused breakdowns in production and op.cit., 1995, 86-88. So the betweenratio the minimal and average wages decreased2,8 from 1: (1964) to 1:2,2. Peter Hübner, significant concessions to the lower-income groups: the minimal wage was increased from 220 to 300 Mark. the workers’ demands fulfill to (premiums,had often lower managers the norms) and if they wanted them differentials to wage fulfill the plan.greater In 1967enabled the state however, made incentives economic The wages. the increasing without productivity labor increase to wanted they workers: ofthe demands wage 97 self-regulation because it was considered too capitalist. 96 Peter Hübner argues that in the defense of the Berlin wall, the party was more determined to resist the resist to determined was more party the wall, Berlin the of defense in the that argues Hübner Peter From the 1968 second edition of Ulbricht’s works a whole section was removed, which contained the term Keren devoted less attention to social discontent, which, however, could have been have could however, which, discontent, social to attention less devoted Keren Keren’s mainis economic argument the that in upheaval thelast years two ofthe 52 97 96 CEU eTD Collection improvement of working andliving conditions” to his people, which, according to his later “a constant promised German Honecker beat GDR’sWest rival. to the suitable von Wirtschafts-und Sozialpolitik centralized planningwith an consumption. orientation toward but aslack, however, combined regime, The Honecker andconsumption-oriented. decentralized slack, just opposite: the mix was reformers’ the believed that economists the ever with centralized planning since Stalin fortaut, a high investments, combined priority 99 the scientific-technical advance and the increase of labor productivity”. of increase the and advance scientific-technical the on the basis of the rapid development of the socialist production, the increase of efficiency, living of of improvementof population standard the and material cultural “thethe further investment. In1971Honecker main announcedthat the Five-Year-Plan the of task was of that above consumption increase of of rate the hadput Plan Five-Year timea when first increasesFive-Year-Plan in headconsumption put ofthe at the national tasks; wasthe this after his takeoverImmediately regime. his of collapse the until loyal remained he which to he policy, living” increased the rate of growth of consumption. The insisted who maximalthe program.on party secretary, new draft of the similar course. They announced in Poland on 12 Decemberrather 1970,theGDR leadershipdarenot risk did to a chose to abandon of prices the increase the thatfollowed riots bloody the after butinflation have generated the maximal program of the NES and the Beatrix Bouvier, op. cit DDR 1971 bis Protokoll 1975, in: des VIII. Parteitages der2.volume, SED, 322-327 and 380-391.Cited in 98 Michael Keren, op. cit. 79. Direktive des VIII.ParteitagesSED der zum Fünfjahrplandie für Entwicklung derVolkswirtschaft der Honecker came to power in the name of the consumption-oriented “standard-of- consumption-oriented the in of name power the to came Honecker In 1976 Honecker announced the unity economic of andsocial policy In 1976Honeckerannounced( theunity ., 2002, 71. ), which aimed to implement a socialist welfare program welfare a socialist implement to aimed which ), 99 98 Keren argues that die Einheit 53 CEU eTD Collection für Wirtschaftsforschung’. Beiträge zur Strukturforschung, Heft 143, 1993. 143, Heft Strukturforschung, zur Beiträge Wirtschaftsforschung’. für Einkommengrößenklassen aufder methodischenGrundlage Verteilungsrechnungder desDeutschenInstituts Einkommensverteilung und –umverteilung inder DDR Haushaltsgruppen1988 nach und analysis3-20. Foran ofhousehold incomes see: Klaus-DietrichBedau, al. ’Untersuchungenet. zur Kaufmann, ’ArbeitseinkommenderinDDR’, Deutsches Institut Wirtschaftsforschung,für 1990). For East German working-class wages see also: Manfred vom August1988– Erhebungskonzeptionund Datenbankzugriff’ DDR der DiskussionspapierNo. (Berlin: 11. Angestelltenhaushalten und Arbeiter- in Einkommensstichprobe ’Die Schwarze, -Johannes Krause (1990), 550-562.Fora comparisonbetween the income sof blue-collarand white-collar households see:Peter double. than male income wasnearly Germany in the difference GDR,whilethe inWest the in theGDR inWest Germany.than femaleIn 1988theaverage income was16%lower wages30%. The betweenworkers’ thesexes found study wagedifferential asmaller up to branchesvarious wasalso little:month. relatively 150Mper Shiftbonuses could influence The among earnedmoreaverage difference the workers. on 15% than skilled graduates 1110 M(gross) while of that a foreman was 1370M(gross). University collegeor der Lohndatenerfassungder vom September1988’, 103 357-370. 102 1988); strata. social other to compared population increasedsignificantly up to1978. revenue of 400 M. andinIn 1977thegovernment 1976to decreasedinsurance unemployment the the workers. 350 M, to from 300 increased wagewas minimum the 1971 stable.In were keptrelatively Even according to Western analysts the real income of the families with a special emphasis on the working women. working the on emphasis aspecial with families elements of program this were wagepolicy,housing for state construction and support the critics, largely tothecontributed growingindebtedness of GDR.the see , e.g., Gert-Joachim Glaeßner (ed.), Glaeßner Gert-Joachim e.g., see , 101 cit., 2004, 190. in the other socialistrefused to increase the prices of consumers’ goodscountries with the argument that the counter-revolutionary attempts such 100 as Poland all started with the increase of the prices. André Steiner, op. Doris Cornelsen, ‘Die Wirtschaft der DDR in der Honecker-Ära’, in Gert-Joachim Glaeßner (ed.), op. cit., Even in the 1980s when the GDR faced a deteriorating balance of foreign trade, Honecker consequently Honecker trade, foreign of balance deteriorating a faced GDR the when 1980s the in Even HelgaStephan-Eberhard Wiedemann, ‘Lohnstrukturund Lohndifferenzierungder inDDR. Ergebnisse On Honecker’s social policy see: Bouvier, op. cit., 2002. For contemporary studies on the Honecker era Honecker the on studies contemporary For 2002. cit., op. Bouvier, see: policy social Honecker’s On WernerWeidenfeld-Hartmut Zimmermann (eds.), op. cit. 1989. As a study of GDR wages shows, blue-collar workers earned relatively well as 103 Die DDR inder Ära Honecker In 1988 the average wage of a blue-collar worker was worker wageof ablue-collar In average 1988 the Leistung und Lohn Mittelungen aus derArbeitsmarktund Berufsforschung 102 , Nr. 223/224, April 1990, Sonderheft DDR, 101 Wages increasedwhileprices (Opladen: Westdeutscher Verlag, 100 The most important most The , 23, , 54 CEU eTD Collection maternity leave increased to 26 weeks, got maternity leave increasedto mothers the yearleaveone paid second the after or moreevery mother children, with paid two to 1976 the 40-hour weekwasextended In leave. paid given were places, nursery no received who mothers, working Single baby. also Maftera maternity every loan M.Thestate grant of paid1,000 interest-free 5,000 of young, everyencourage thepeoplemarry andmoreto holidays.leave,maternity higher childbenefits To couple whoweek for mothers with three children (shiftwere workers with two children), the increase of paid below social policy package variousof benefits1972 gave for working the mothers: 40-hour 26 and married couldage groups be in in accommodated nurseries the The and 90% kindergartens. the for themainly achieved with extension the of child care institutions. In1980,60% of relevantthe first time,market. This enhancelabor inof regimewas participation the the women aimedto the received an houses. old the of renovation for the capacity enough not andtherewas flats, modern of blocks the building of the on resources state itconcentrated because criticized flats.in priority principally enjoyed Thehousing allocation of the state later program was housing family adultfor couplesown member). (an every Young androom workers shift 3,5 million flats and a historicallyto providevery short period of time. The state promised to build,every renovate or modernize adult years, within every twenty GDR citizen solve theflatproblem of to aimed program, which GDR citizen with comfortable and spacious Kultur und Sozialwesen, 20.5.1976. Sozialwesen, und Kultur Unternehmensarchiv der CarlZeiss Jena GmbH, Jena(UACZ), VANr. 1583, Unterlagen zurDirektion 105 104 the enterprise addressed the issue of the allocation of flats. of issuethe of allocation the the enterprise addressed the and Zeiss-employees the between correspondence surviving the of majority overwhelming this criticism, the social impact of the project should not be underestimated; the In 1976 In the enterprise disposed of10,500 flats and 3,342 places in theworkers’ hostelsJena. in Bouvier, op. cit., 180-193. The of support important workingfieldthe mothers wasan social because of policy housing thestate program was social main of Honecker’s The second pillar 105 104 Despite 55 CEU eTD Collection MVG in Gy The selection ofthe factories Germany. reformand attemptbrief to the system party andthe the ended with unification of the consent to Honecker’s policy. At that time, however, the party effectively lost social trust of people’s thesign than rather of repression result wasthe silence the revealed that opened, were borders Hungarian the when West, the to population the of flight mass end. very the until troubles the about silent remain sources GDR the discontent, social growing the about us inform materials party Hungarian the while materials: party in local the wasreflected discipline ideological The party. andthe workers the between living policy combined with was repression, whichclosed possibility the any dialogue of liberalization, standard-of- Honecker’s by political reformsrelative wereaccompanied with camp socialistthe (wherethey While leading).indeed were inHungary market the than rather neighbors Western with their themselves compared citizens German East the standardthe livingbein of continued muchhigher to West Germany inthe and than GDR from 100 to 150 M afterfrom threechildren.100 to 100 Mafter and 50 Maftertwo, from onechild,20 to increased benefits: child 20 to significantly regime advantage of 1987the In this opportunity. take also fathers could mother a wasentitledfirst to one-yearleave paidthe child, after cases andinjustified childholiday increased the and thenumberpaid From of with children.the 1986 every 107 106 Idid not work withStasi files. Bouvier, op. cit., 264-272. My research uses two case studies, Carl Zeiss Jena in East Germany Rába in Eastand Zeiss Jena case studies, Carl uses two My research because failure to was,however,doomed state welfare of socialist the The project Ę r, Hungary,in toexamine order functioning the labor of the policy the of 106 107 The 56 CEU eTD Collection organization were preserved in the county were preservedin organization archives. county the materials of party the the and secretary, with full-time party a party committee enterprise had MVG an Rába of archive: an existence the was consideration practical MVG. The of workers former andtwenty factory in the employed were still who people with twenty conducted interviews life-history were sources The primary in systems two comparison. the saw they how and transformation experienced workers the how of question research neighboringdirectly first an Austria. I conducted interview project in factory the with the these these were obviouslytowns hitharderby excludere-structuring, I decided to this distorting Since Union. Soviet the from fuels exported cheaply and industry heavy on built were towns whole industrialization forced of period In the past. had apre-socialist and regime, was importantfind model factory,It an to ex-socialist whichsurvived thechange of industrial enterprise in county the of Gy Rába largest wasthe MVG,which I selected InHungary employees. for theirfacilities inlarge which could its the strongest recreational enterprises, offer cultural, and sport enterprise. of the responsibility the became also development product and improvement Technological product. given production.industrial Giant enterprises were formed, had which amonopoly over their means of of the concentration the increased in 1960s the management enterprise basis, anditsought tofocus labor policy group. this Thearound re-organization of in industry its central large-scale social workers as Theparty regarded considerations. aspractical as well by theoretical motivated factories was two the of selection The GDR). the (in district in the or Hungary) (in county the in and factories inthe party vállalati döntésekben Laky, Teréz see: enterprises large of the power bargaining ofthe discussion the For 36-61. 108 For a good summary on the changes of the enterprise structure in Hungary see: Iván Schweitzer, op. cit., Schweitzer, Iván see: Hungary in structure enterprise ofthe changes the on summary good a For The Zeiss enterprise was selected after I had finished working in the Rába factory. intheRába Ihadfinishedworking selectedafter The Zeissenterprise was (Budapest: Közgazdasági ésJogi Könyvkiadó,1982); Szalai Erzsébet,op.cit., 1989. 108 The policy of the party towards the working class was at Ę r-Sopron located in northwestern r-Sopron Hungary, Érdekviszonyok a 57 CEU eTD Collection MVG was founded in Gy Rába MVG in Gy Rába-employees. the of tothat wascomparable socialism of experience their workers of the Zeiss factory were part of the well paid core of industrialthe working class, the socialism. andlate party the Since between under workers the examine therelationship industrialdifferent branches butmy research aim was not tocompare but factories to 2001 the management2001 located Rába dating the back1905 products in to Africa.South 111 110 likejust GDRthe Gy which factory to wasonemost of (today the belonged Thuringia) developedof parts the of the province, the enterprise maintained afactory archive. In addition, the district of Gera in located from Apart archive materials,were the which all criteria. party of the above the whichsatisfied Zeissfactory, the my to Hübnercalled attention Peter factory. Hungarian match to the in located of outside order Ialsocapital findthe factory a factor. hadto history of Rába (Zoltánné Tabiczky, 109 rolling Antwerp Tramways. LondonUndergroundtransported to the andstock the factory itsexported products to Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, andit Italy and Egypt, enterprise: the becameof aprosperous nineteenth carriages the century. production The modernization of which Austro-Hungarian the Monarchy, during the lastoccurred third of economic of the aspart established was Factory TheWagon a county town. also 1896. Gy Informationfrom an interview with the communication manager of the enterprise. Zoltánné Tabiczky, op. cit., 1.volume, 29-30. The translation of the name of the factory is taken from the English summary of a book introducing the The Hungarian Wagon and Machine Factory Wagon andMachine The Hungarian Ę r was a historically important town in the region: it was the seat of a diocese and Ę r (1945-1989) Ę r-Sopron factories inbelongedcounty the two Hungary. r-Sopron True, to Ę r, a commercial and administrative center of western Hungary in A Magyar Vagon- ésGépgyár története 109 which became later known as Rába as known later became which 1-2 volumes, Gy Ę r, 1977).r, 111 110 In 58 CEU eTD Collection detached amounted to 50% of the capacity of enterprise. the of capacity 50% of the to detached amounted detached from Wagonthe Factory in 1951.The equipment and production of plants the factory. As a result of re-structuring, the car plant and the machine-tool works were above that of last the pre-war year by In 1949 7,500 40%. people in worked factorythe plan was theindustrialreconstruction successfullyfinishedand production of 1949 rose Gy the them amongst engineering, heavy and ownership In changed. 1946 the largestgovernment nationalized in enterprises the mining totally network railway totally ruined indispensable were for of almost rebuilding the the products more pressingsinceits the workedblue-collar workers in Rába while in1943their number wasdoubled. amounted to about 10% of that recorded earlier.recorded 10% of aboutthat to amounted 36-40% of machineindustry Hungarian the awhole. Summeras productionin 1945 trucks. completed in Botond cars completed produced 1943, and development of plants important for war production. The new motor car factory was factory, the entailed which armament declaredan wasofficially interwar period, damaged that they could not be restored. Zoltánné Tabiczky, Zoltánné be restored. not could they that damaged 115 114 113 112 independent only until 1952 when itwas integrated into the Csepel Auto Factory. The Gy 118 117 cit., 2. volume, 9. war around 10% ofdamage. the More locomotives than one third of the rails andand 85% 116 of4% the ofcombined the bridges carriages were destroyed. Atwere the end of inthe a usable state. Zoltánné Tabiczky, op. volume, (Gy Foundry and the Industrial Tool Factory were also separated from the Wagon factory. Ede Horváth was Horváth Ede factory. Wagon the from separated also were Factory Tool Industrial the and Foundry The total The built-in area of factory wasthe 146,000m²;buildings covering 45,000 m² were badly so Ibid., 156. Zoltánné Tabiczky,op.cit., 154-155. Thejeep Rába-Botond developed1936-37 in was an independent design of factory. the The process was part of a central profile re-organization in the state industry. The car factory was carfactory The industry. state the in re-organization profile central of a part was process The Ibid. 24-25. 17% of the total war damages was the traffic and the railway network suffered two third of the traffic 113 The firstfive-year-plan (1950-1954) wasa ofmajorperiod change in lifeof the the In 1945 war losses70% asan factory at against In 1945war average to were assessed capacity In 1939 the factory, which also started to produce buses, trucks and tractors in and buses, toproduce tractors the factory, trucks started In 1939the whichalso The personnel factory the of massiveexperienced a growth: in nearly 1941 5,000 Ę r, 1977), r, 10. . 116 Simultaneously with the rebuilding of the factory the of rebuilding the with Simultaneously Ę r Wagon Works. After the first three-year first the After Works. Wagon r 112 115 , Turán tanks and Rába-Maros military andRába-Maros tanks , Turán The rebuilding of the factory was all A MagyarVagon-A ésGépgyár története 118 At the same time the time same the At Ę r Screwr Mill, the 114 . 117 59 2. CEU eTD Collection plan (1966-1970). organizational unity againRába was of by restored beginningof the thirdthe five-year- years,Wagon Afterwas Factory. the with aseparation thirteen of officially the reunited again called Hungarian Railway Carriage and Machine Works RailwayCarriage1965 Works – MVG-since again Machine called and Hungarian appointed the chief manager of thechief appointed of manager WagonFactory. the was in in 1963EdeHorváth industry: the machine started of process concentration shortfall plan. infulfill the it thefailed export greatest planand produced to the WagonFactory 1962the and low. productivity labor In was wasoutdated sector the that examinedin industry Committee country the machine situation the the of and concluded triggered a sharp conflict with the management of managementtriggered Wagon asharpconflict with factory.to of the Hesought the which avery “Rába”.Horváth used thetrademarkstarted soon project, ambitious name of Wilhelm Pieck Vehicle Industrial Works. Industrial Vehicle Pieck of Wilhelm name of Gy citizen anhonorary made was he 1986 In 122 industry. vehicle the of program developmental 1989 was chiefof he Rába the manager 1980 received MVG.Inhe prize for state centralthe inhis results a cutting. In1953 washe appointedquick manager the of in Industrial the Tool results Factory of forhis Gy Prize Kossuth the received he 1950 in and Stakhanovite a as career his established he as a turner in the Rába factory and he also started working there before the Second World War. Afterthe war, 9141. from 7313 to rose factory the personnel andthe number of detachedthe plants) (without Union. The number blue-collar of rose from workers 6239 during4861 to plan the period mainly Soviet the to wereexported, steel structures other and bridges lifttrucks, cranes, steam- railwaycarriages, too: rose, Exports in country. the plant manufacturing machine of Ganzfactory surpassed that the becoming Works thus largest second Wagon the factory was significantgranted sums toincrease production. The production value of the 121 120 119 from detached also was factory tool the caranother factory.1953 In (Zoltánné Factory. Tabiczky, Tool op. cit., Industrial 2.of the volume, 33.) manager chief appointed The The WagonFactory was officially withreunited Industrial the Tool Factory on1 January 1964, underthe EdeHorváth(1924, Szombathely-1998, Gy Ibid.,61. Ibid., 44. 119 The enterprise started the third five-year plan under its traditional name (i.e. itits traditional was (i.e. name five-year third the plan under The enterprise started In 1962 a new chapter started in the history started in In 1962a newof TheCentral history the WagonFactory. chapter the Ę r) came fromr) working-class a family. Hefinished his training 121 With this the Industrial Tool Factory Ę r. Between1963 r. and Ę r. 122 120 ) and ) A 60 CEU eTD Collection (ed.), this sum the American export amounted treaty with theGeneralto Motors. In 1985 Rába export54 had an of 90 millionmillion$ tocapitalist countries and out of $. Katalin Bossányi, ‘Made in Rába’,128 in István Matkó határozatáról amin napirendi anyagai.A MagyarVagon-és Gépgyárvezérigazgatójának beszámolójaKB a 1974. december5.-i 127 126 125 124 10, 5 no.(2005), 63-67. Horváth also reported about conflict the in book.his Ede Horváth, op.cit., exported axles to the United States. axlesUnited tothe exported workers). in and Horváth conflict, the could ambitious the carry development. out whodemanded Horváth’s removal from his post, the central hisleadershipparty took side working of in started In of also attacks WagonFactory. spite the the leaders, local the party – like- Horváth who county, the of secretary first the and Horváth Ede between conflict a from MAN West German sharp reorganization firm.production The of generated the plannedwas developmentrealized with oflicensemanufacture purchase the to engines andincreasetotal madeby up theproduction axles. androlling stock engines of rear The shareof the decreaseof by hemeantthe which by profile, modernizechanging production 123 In 1975 Rába employed people Gy nearly 20,000 inits Factory Factory in Budapest. was bus Hungarian the industry, over12,000large producing buses inayear Ikarus atthe market for theengines The biggest engines parts. produce 13,000 andauxiliary capacity to 124 16,000 people. The volumeininvestmenttotal of year to700millions that amounted HUF. billion HUF with an export mounting graduallyrolling fell. stock 1965 the In value total ofits amounted finished to3 products up to 40%. In that year Rába employed more than the Foundry of Foundry the Gy of TheAmericanexport of Rába-axles started in1974with the Steiger-company.1980 Rába In signed a GYML, X. 415/3/23, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/3/23, X. GYML, Ibid. 99. Ibid. 109. Zoltánné Tabiczky, op. cit. 2. volume, 106-109. The personal dimension of the conflict is discussed in: János Tischler, ‘A “gy The new Rába plantproducinginaugurated engines on 17 Junewas 1969andithad the Ipari közelképek 127 Although partner itsSoviet main wasthe export Union, company the also Ę ség, atakarékosságés amunkaer (Budapest: Ipari és Kereskedelmi Minisztérium Kiadása, 1986), 35. Ę r in 1968, the Red Star and the Mosonmagyaróvár Tractor Factories. in andtheMosonmagyaróvárTractor r RedStar 1968, the 125 New joinedin Ajkaplants 1967, parentcompany - Sárvárand the Ę 128 r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę -helyzetr Ę l, 16, 1975.július 22. Ę r plants15,000 (about blue-collar Ę ri csata” – 1965.”’, 123 Production of 29-33. Ę Beszél könyve, 126 61 Ę , CEU eTD Collection managers sacrificed him inorder to save themselves. story The of Horváth’s removal is told from another 132 131 social institutions. 130 sports’ club. also had atechnical library, abrasscultural band, a adancecenter, and achore, a group and calledfootball Rába-ETO team many It launched andscholarshiptraining programs. local the builta hugeThe enterprise sponsored stadium, largest employer. was the where it of itof 1989 was unlikely he wouldthat have everkepthis position. which 18December heagreed on Horváth to to retire, 1989. ’Megalapozott teljesítménykövetelmények és a termel és a teljesítménykövetelmények ’Megalapozott acknowledgement of his managerial success. Thecompany enjoyed high prestige in Gy was again on quality In 1986wheneconomic Western Rába-products. recognition reform of good the of the political profits. made substantial agenda, model well as factory,worked advertised Rábawaswidely coverage. and a socialist which Ede Horváth was elected the man of the year in Edével, aRába vezérigazgatójával’, 129 untilpost Gy 1992, the organized astrike. enterprise Even the though inhis council Horváth confirmed managerial Mosonmagyaróvár plantdemanded be to detached from Rába union and the trade newspapers. in The independent campaign him established against newly the trade union,the Kóh,Zoltán thesituationan exacerbated andled to abusive press of secretary the with His attack. conflict of target obvious wasan EdeHorváth Committee economic troubles of the country, came under greater pressure. As a member of the Central the for responsible held were who elite, political old the of Members support. political Vagon- és Gépgyárban)’ Horváth tells the story perspectivefrom his Ede Horváth, op.in cit.,130-150. Hethe that argued Party Congress. (14th) last 7 1989,atthe Octoberon MSZMPwas dissolved Zoltánné Tabiczky, op. cit. 2.volume, 76-84. There is also a photo documentationof the cultural and See e.g. Katalin Bossányi, op. cit., 27-42; id., ’A versenyképesség stratégiája: Beszélgetés Horváth Beszélgetés stratégiája: ’A versenyképesség id., 27-42; cit., op. Bossányi, Katalin See e.g. In the national and local press the “Rába miracle” received substantial media substantial received “Rábamiracle” the local In thenational press and The dissolution of the MSZMP 130 Társadalmi Szemle Ę 129 r court repealedr court this resolution. council The enterprise asked The exports to the United States were understood asthe were understood UnitedStates to the Theexports Társadalmi Szemle , 31, no. 7 (1976),66-72. 131 in deprived September 1989 EdeHorváth of Ę kapacitás kihasználása. (Beszélgetés a Magyar a (Beszélgetés kihasználása. kapacitás , 11(1978),33, no. 51-59;Lajos Horányi, 132 In the political atmosphere In political the 133 Ę 62 r, CEU eTD Collection Rába and his work for the factory. His autocratic leading style arose more controversies. more arose style leading autocratic His factory. the for work his and Rába The overwhelming majority of my interview partners recognized and respected Horváth’s commitment to because of the controversial judgment of his person, the townwould ratherconsider a commemorative tablet. daily recommended that ECE-Einkaufs-Center-Gy to hectares 6,5 of Horváthestate located centrally should get a statute from the133 town. (Readers’ letters were published in the local Így láttam Horváth Edét id. in: enterprise the of manager communication the Dusza, András by perspective Carl Zeiss Jena(1945-1990) the regulationthe minimalof workingthe hours, wage, paidhealth care holiday, insurance, was instanceforlabor progressive protection, combined with social measures andpolitical proprietor of the enterprise.minded Abbeestablished Zeiss from the Carl Foundation, which 1891 became sole the This form of had in 60employees in 1888 327people while worked social- In 1889 the factory. the ownership, which was of successstory the This established enterprise:in the enterprise characteristics. 1875 the at the time less typical, andcatalogue microscopes according toset inmanufacture could world the that Schott, achemist specializinginhigh quality lenses.optical Zeiss wasthe only enterprise histhrough Abbe, partnershipwith aJenaphysicistErnst andphilanthropist andOtto high Thereal fame however,standardsworkmanship. of enterprisethe wasof established, Jena in 1846.Zeiss himself forwas well known his pedantry, and he set his employees in founded workshop entrepreneur,Carl eponymous Zeiss hisprecision-mechanical-optical privileged position also amongindustrial enterprises the of pre-war Germany. The The evaluation of Ede Horváth is even today controversial. On 24 November 2003 the Rába sold its sold Rába the 2003 November 24 On controversial. today even is Horváth of Ede evaluation The Kisalföld The Carl Zeiss factory – or rather, the workers of rather, -enjoyed company The Carl the factory workers the a – or Zeiss ). In a public meeting of the town on 9 January 2004 the mayor of the town declared that (Gy Ę r: X-MeditorKft.,r: 2003). Figure 2. Logo of Rába of Logo 2. Figure Ę r. On this occasion many people many occasion this On r. A birodalom végnapjai: 63 CEU eTD Collection 137 Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-EdithHellmuth, op. cit. companies were both allowedcountries to advertise several and sell In its products, Greece. and withtheAustria exception in and of of France the formerFrench exception the colonies. with Community, European the of states member the in same the do could Oberkochen Zeiss Lebanon. and Kuwait Syria, in country, socialist 136 135 Sozialreformer (Weimar: Böhlau, 1996); KerstinGerth, (München: Piper, 1992); Wolfgang Mühlfriedel (ed.), Bruckmann, 1967); ArminHermann, jetzt Zeiss: Leben und Werk Leben Zeiss: (München: Allgemeine Zeitung,1905); Paul Gerhard Esche, Moritz von Rohr, von Moritz Jena: ihre wissenschaftliche,und soziale technischeEntwicklung undBedeutung ( (around 70% were Germans). (around 70%were 13,000people, employed enterprise the March heavy warlosses.1945, In itsuffered very many from aspects. astheir own they couldfactory regard that with the identification theworkers’ facilitated also it but enterprise the of success the to only not contributed policy social generous The in interests factory.of the workers’ payand severance pension, legal the representation Leben und Wirken 134 16,500. enterprise hadin 10,000employees around increasedwhile number1954 their to ininits amassivegrowth workforce: factory,the of 1950the rebuildingstarted 1948with in Germantwo the states dismantling Soviets period.the Even ordered though the of the incourt 1971. use of the trade mark, andthe afterabout agreement a an longreach not could lawsuit,firms two The Heidenheim. in the mater Foundation Zeiss was finally decided by a London in factory Carl anew and didZeiss indeed found Carl Oberkochen The migrants another zone. in Western the andprofessionals scientists of resettlement the encouraged strongly they Soviets, the tohandin control to order over marched out troops, andwhenthey Ibid. 115. According to the London settlement, the Carl Zeiss JENA could use the trade mark in almost every almost in mark trade the use could JENA Zeiss Carl the settlement, London the to According Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith Hellmuth, There is much literature on the history of the Zeiss factory, see e.g.: Felix Auerbach, Felix e.g.: see factory, Zeiss ofthe history the on literature much is There (Berlin: Rütten&Loening, 1962); Horst AlexanderWilliam, During the Second World War, Zeisswas in integrated industry, armaments the and 137 The rebuilding – like in Hungary – went hand in hand with the change of change the with hand in hand –went Hungary in like – rebuilding The (Jena: Bussert-Stadeler, 2005). 136 (Leipzig:Akademische Verlag, 1919);id., The rivalry of the two firms also symbolized the competition between the between competition the symbolized also firms two the of rivalry The Ernst Abbe (Jena: 134 Wartburg-Verl.,1966); Wolfgang Schumann (Jena: Fischer, 1940); Julius Pierstorff, 135 In 1945 the town of Jena was first taken In town by American 1945 the of taken Jena wasfirst Carl Zeiss. Die abenteuerliche Geschichte einer deutschen Firma Carl Zeiss in Jena 1945-1990 , 279. Ernst Abbe: 1840-1905: Wissenschaftler,Unternehmer, Carl Zeiss: Die Geschichte eines Unternehmens Ernst Abbe Das Zeisswerkdie Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung und in (Weimar: Böhlau), 8. Böhlau), (Weimar: Carl Zeiss: 1816-1888 (Leipzig: Teubner,1963); id.: et al et Ernst Abbe als SozialpolitikerErnst Abbeals ., Carl Zeiss Jena,einst und Jena: Fischer,Jena: 1925); Ernst Abbe: sein (Müchen: Carl 64 CEU eTD Collection Schrade was65in1965. someaccording to memoirshe indeed urged retiringthe chiefthe of manager even though in – post Schrade, whowasregardedasan“old managerial Zeissianer”, replacedthe Hugo system management”in theof planning In and enterprise ashis chief task. 1966 Gallerach economic “new the of principles the of implementation the regarded policy, reform his and policy. Ernst Gallerach, the deputy-in-chief of Zeiss, who was a loyal supporter of Ulbricht in personnel also itself manifested which system, economic new in the for role significant itsbeenfor performance. renowned giveexport Ulbrichtwanted to factory the a Zeiss hadalready which and enterprise, the for town the new perspectives up opened structure toovercome propaganda its theirincreased resistance. precisely because of the former, generous social policy of the factory even though the party enthusiasm with unanimous economy planned into the integration and nationalization ownership. The majority of the workers did not, however, greet the program of a discussionof the development of prognosis in Carl Zeiss see: Philipp Neumann, ’„... bishergroup created nicht within Gedachtes the Political Committee,which dealt withlong-term (15-20year) strategic planning. For 140 139 Zeiss Jena 1948bis 1953’, M. A, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, 2002. 138 order to accomplish the task. the accomplish to order memoirslater –accordingforin theyspent theirmany at work to nights their workplace Seventh Party Congress in 1967. The members of workingthe received group awards state term (15-20 year) development of the Zeiss factory, which Gallerach presented at the in the enterprise. Even more important was the task of elaborating a prognosis for the long- was formed with of task the developing theprinciples of application the of newsystem the system management.planningof said,Thatand already in 1964a working group socialist new the of “laboratory” as a itserved also because but output its export because of only Ulbricht held economic prognoses so important that he himself undertook the leadership of the working Wolfgang Mühlfriedel- Edith Hellmuth, op. cit.,199. Onthe integrationof the social policy see: Philipp Neumann, ’Betriebliche Sozialpolitik im VEB Carl The East German economic reform and the re-organization of enterprise of the re-organization the and reform German economic The East 139 The enterprise was held to be one of strategic importance not importance strategic of be one to held was enterprise The 140 In April 1968 the Political Committee decided that the 138 65 CEU eTD Collection (Jena, 1988). 91. 147 146 145 144 143 foundationstone of buildingthe of 6/70. Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith Hellmuth, 142 institution vocational largest the of over Zeiss controlledsupervision GDR. the training school in Göschwitz wasopened in 2,100trainees1970, where and 4,000 comprehensive unworthy of a town, which hosted the internationally recognized Zeiss factory. suchconditionshouses were he declaredcriticizedand that city the of thecrumbling When Ulbricht visited Jena, he also promised town. toin the invest in concentrated thebe also development would production of therelevant town,and GDR, he inthe technology automation rationalization and the researchof of the center bethe would enterprise denken ...” denken employees had a university acollege hadauniversity employees degree. or people. 4,741 employed center In1975 twoyearsthe after work. preparatory center wasofficially openedin1971, of manager.The research chief tothe only 1972 wasaccountable from which established, was its solely forof In deportment foreign responsible 1967 the export-import trade. fromunder AffairsForeign but the supervision 1968 the Ministry of the of enterprise was of optical instruments.and In it precision 1965 received theforeign rightof firsttrade, responsibility. In1964 seven joinedplants Zeiss, which becamethus theleading enterprise main the bore confidence, Ulbricht’s enjoyed who Gallerach, for which enterprise, the Hellmuth, 141 Zeiss Jena’ (Manuscript, Jena, 2000). .Ibid. 222. These schools gave a high-school leaving certificate as well as vocational training. Ibid.44. Table, 375. Ibid. 235. The first secretary visited the factory with hiswife on 25April 1968, on the occasion of the laying of the The Political Committee’s resolutionof 26 April 1968 is quoted in:Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith 40 Jahre inVolkes Hand: Aus der Chronik desKombinates CarlVEB Zeiss JENA 145 The reform of the economic management thus initiated significant developments in developments significant initiated thus management economic the of reform The op. cit., students could be accommodated (there were also dormitories). werealso (there beaccommodated could students : Zur Bedeutung der Prognostik im Neuen Ökonomischen System. Das Beispiel des VEB Carl 206. 143 In 1980, this number was around 3,500 and 40% of the 40% of number 3,500and around was In1980,this 144 The industrial and educational complex op. cit., , Teil 1:1948bis 1970. 205. 146 142 With that, 147 141 66 CEU eTD Collection bankruptcy bankruptcy with statea significantsupport. 1969 and 1970worsenedfactory the situation the of it extentto the couldthat only avoid plans of andtaut performance. ambitious The inhuge export arrears were addition, there well characterizes the end of the reform that Gallerach received criticism not because of his because of not criticism Gallerach received reform endof the that the well characterizes It his fate. decided fall that political butUlbricht’s factory the of problems economic the not was it bodies, political central the by criticized was Gallerach though Even outcome. its influenced largely Poland) and Czechoslovakia in (mainly events foreign and consistent connected were factory of the problems economic withfacts because several “negative” of above the the structural contradictions of the reform. The reform itself was not 1,6 million M, while the enterprise could only spare 125,000 M with rationalization. by increased in costof the energy 1964, of enterprise: financial the difficulties added tothe 2,1 M. diamond Minstead increasedby46%whileaspecial opal 19,29 of glass cost previous the very because with of price difficult the materials: they worked situation raw expensive Zeiss ina put prices the Theincreaseof because considerations. accordingly political of couldbe increased increased industrial prices not while the products significantly of materials of raw costs becausethe of Zeiss management the on effect negative very hada reform price The in factory. feltthe years NESwasstrongly the of of last chaos the not an unambiguous success story – on the contrary, in the light of the local sources, the Brezhnev’s visit on 20 April 1967 is a clear sign of the Soviet interest in the enterprise. development. and research military in role important an played also enterprise The 148 151 150 149 . Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith Hellmuth, Ibid. 214-215. Ibid. 186. Ibid.,187. The evaluation of Gallerach’s managerial achievement is ambiguous even in light in even is ambiguous achievement managerial Gallerach’s of evaluation The Despite these results, the reform of the economicmanagement in the enterprise was 149 The increase of energy prices, on which they likewise could not spare much, op. cit., 204. 151 150 148 In 67 CEU eTD Collection Honecker launched mitigated the great pressure on in on the Jena:housing housing greatpressure launched themodern mitigated Honecker of Lommatzsch, andSuhl.of Eisfeld, Saalfeld Gera, 1985; in26,000 people hadtheir in Jena workplaces whilearound 7,000worked plants the Out of this number, the workforce of VEB itself in the local sources until until itself in fall local sources the regime.the Honecker the of autonomy, for instance Jenaer Glaswerk, Feinme Glaswerk, Jenaer instance for autonomy, Zeiss in joinedbecause plants further ended Zeiss;thephaseof concentration 1985.In 1976 the NES yielded fruit under Biermann. The workforce of the enterprise continued togrow contradict him.contradict ruthlessly removed the managers whom he held to be politically unreliable or who dared to of and Bureauin1966,was for Political he one-manmanagement, the the a supporter Biermann Wolfgang thenew manager, his “liberal” predecessors, expanding enterprise hadand he,too, toleave management seniorthe in 1975. Contrary to successor, HelmutWunderlich, likewise himselftooliberalproved manageto the ever fallthe reform.of Gallerach was the his of relieved managerial 1 July on post 1971. His after leadership party the of dissatisfaction the of sign clear a was which liberalism, with economic tasks at the expense of work”. political of expense atthe tasks economic muchquite in the contrary, because“hewastoo but economicthe performance absorbed 157 156 Hellmuth, 155 154 Zeiss. (Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith Hellmuth, produced large turner’s lathes. Biermannwasyears old, when 48 was he the appointed chief of manager party in the GDR). Between 1965 and 1975,the Central Committee he of wasthe SED (Sozialistische chief Einheitspartei manager Deutschlands= the ofname of thethe Communist VEB „Oktober 7” 153 in Berlin, which ZeissCarl JENA fürdas Jahr 1970, quoted in Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-EdithHellmuth, 152 Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith Hellmuth, enterprise. state-owned Betrieb) VEB=(Volkseigener The Ibid. 342-344. Wolfgang Biermann, who was the chief manager VEB des of Geschäftsbericht Zeiss 1231, Nr. VA (UACZ), betweenJena GmbH, Jena Zeiss Carl der 1975 and Unternehmensarchiv 1989, was also a member of Kombinat Kombinat With some rightit canbe argued that the huge developmental projects started in the op. cit. 39. Table, 372. encompassed every plant which joined Zeiss, although many of them retained its legal its retained of them many although Zeiss, joined which plant every encompassed 154 155 It is not accidental that no negative criticism of the manager manifested manager the of criticism negative no accidental isthat It not employed around 35,000 people, in 1980 42,000 and inin 1985 53,000. 198042,000and employed around 35,000people, op. cit., 300. op.cit., 284). ȕ Dresden, Pentacon Dresden (Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith (Wolfgang Dresden Pentacon Dresden, 156 Carl 33,000 in “only” Carl Zeiss amounted to 152 The report also The manager chargedthe report 157 The state housing projects that housing projects Thestate 153 , who was a candidate op. cit.,215-216. 68 CEU eTD Collection Biermann’s ismanagerial ambiguous unknown. were manager chief the of whereabouts The fraud. was accusedof who manager, of the arrest for the was issued a warrant informed that plants. the of was found of one in that staircase the of handwritten pamphlet reported a loyally manager regimethe waslessobservable in in GDR the than Hungary. In1989 October thechief spectacle. tourist it only not favorite has become but local a the modernized in1983-85,attracted people and renovated was which Planetarium, Zeiss The events. sport and cultural of sponsor The enterprise sportclubs, afootballoperated andapolyclinic. acultural center, team, camps summer was not only theit Zeiss-employees, for kindergartens thefactory ran nurseries, female employment, major employer toenablein full totheiremployees: order benefits and facilities various Rába, offered of the town Zeiss-employees. tothe handed over flats were newstate 5,207 andbut 1974 it was also the main role in be not regimecould forgotten. the in factory getrefused towork the because theydidnot promised flats the in estates in and Winzerlawerebuilt theperiod.Neulobeda Whilein fifty 1968 people 159 und 18. 8.1969. 158 other plants within the enterprise, etc.) workers held him to be a good patron, who fulfilled the justified demands (e.g. allocation of flats, transferto likewise contradictory:while it was generally recognized that he anhad autocratic leading style, many 163 162 161 interviews. the from information 160 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV Nr. B-4/13/079, ProtokollIKL-Sitzung,der 15. See: Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-EdithHellmuth, UACZ,VA Nr. 4743, 13.2.1990.According to the letter, he allegedly escaped toMunich. UACZ,VA Nr. 4722, Fallmeldung, 4.10.1989. UACZ, 1583, Rechenschaftsbericht VANr. derDirektorKultur- und Sozialwesen, 3.3. 1976;also Gleichberechtigt. Die Entwicklung der Frauen und Mädchen im VEB Carl Zeiss Jena Thanks to the ideological discipline and strict censorship, the political weakening of 161 The “transition” was so quick that a few months later the employees were employees later the a fewmonths that wassoquick The“transition” 163 ; it was clear, however, that his prominent political prominent his that however, clear, was it; op.cit., 342-344. In theinterviews manager’s the image was 162 The evaluation of 158 (Weimar, 1975), 19. , between 1970 159 Zeiss, like Zeiss, 160 69 CEU eTD Collection Structure of thedissertation 1980s and itis possible to trace mounting social discontent, the party materials of the Zeiss very documentation good politicalthe of among mood membership the grass-roots in the a is there in Hungary while chapter: last in the lies difference important most the Perhaps Germany. in East documented better much is workers the of housing the or women policy for labor ismorethere data economic inwhile incentives the on instance, Hungary, notevery could of so,for nature sources, the have matchedcourse, part been of properly, membership and the grass-roots the and relation the itsof to government policy. the Given in workers thepolitical the is of study engagedwith the of chapter each part organization last The level. factory at policy this of functioning the examines one third the while level, county (district) class at theworking towards policy regime’s onthe cases focuses both working class in the county and the district to the economic reform. The second chapter in around common provide chronology acontinuous and but narration main four the are chapters organized themes. The first chapter in part. concluding systems the two of remembrance the andcontrast to sources, in each part archival the of information the complement to used areonly interviews the of discusses materials the the transformation, of shapedbytheexperience inevitably have been sincebut memories the responses of infactories; interviews forty-forty life-history two the Iconducted and archives. factory) the (county local the from collected materials archival on relies primarily It level. factory at The dissertation laborstudies in policy countries two the district)at county (or and The Hungarian and East German case studies are presented separately in order to in order separately arepresented studies German case East and The Hungarian Figure 3. Logo of VEB Carl Zeiss 70 CEU eTD Collection countries, it is the main reason of why the Hungarian case study is presented first. two of the climates political the between difference the reflects this While number. higher a in survived they had either informative more been have not would they district, the of materials basis complete more the of the and on in period the fragmentary very are factory 71 CEU eTD Collection W ORKERS IN THE Figure 4. The headquarter of Rába MVG of Rába headquarter The 4. Figure K ÁDÁR R EGIME 72 CEU eTD Collection willingness to fulfill working-class demands largely contributed to the consolidation of the regime. 164 materials of the county of Gy of county the of materials documents. in itself manifested andappeared incriticism that party people, the which the abundant the party between the discussion more open fora gavespace This reform. the continuation of the for neededsupport working-class becausethey reactions to were also responsive party the and defeatof revolution class the working the the after of 1956. was reachedbetween that consensus social the endanger and basisparty the social of the dialogue. The hardliners thought with some reason that the economic reform wouldharm reception within the party, which was one reason for the beginning of a more critical social relations sectorin market –hadacontradictory private andexpand the agriculture of democracy. of enterprise from the masses, their growing wealth, the embourgeoisement of party leaders and the lack detachment managers’ criticized the Workers of features socialist the system. non-socialist becausesocial expectations many reform,criticism wentbeyond the hardliners’ addressing undesired consequencessocial wholly discussion of the reform, the not satisfy could the mentioned in documents.these Although much of criticismthe wasindeed at targeted the large insofar industry of Rábaisstressed county; asitsthe name was specifically only concerned with the working class in the period, the chapter makes use of the reports of the Theargument is developedMark in: Pittaway 2006.op. cit. According to the author, the government’s The chapter studies working-class responses to the reform in the light of the party strengthen to its ambition – particularly mechanism new economic Hungary’s 1. ReformandMaterialism Ę r-Sopron. Since the local party leadership wasparticularly leadership local party Since the r-Sopron. 164 The reformers 73 CEU eTD Collection renewed when Lombos made attempts to intervene in the management of enterprise the of management in the tointervene made attempts Lombos renewed when discord butwas achieved.In1965the Fock defendedHorváth only a temporary agreement wasattacked. in Horváth where committee 1963, executive of the specialmeeting at the laterrepresented who thecentral Fock, became thePrime leadership (1967-1975), Minister Jen recollection Horváth’s to According post. his of him relieve to attempt to as far as becausehe started working there. Lombos took the side of Horváth’s opponents, who went Wagon Factory to the wasnotindifferent between 1966, county 1956 and committee party manager and the party between aconflictthe from factory buy profiletriggered and a license a WestGerman functionaries. Ferenceconomic reform. The planof manager the of Horváth, changeRába to the production Lombos, who was the first secretary of the Downgrading theworking class? ideology working-class of party.the erode the to started inevitably This category.class than in the of status newsymbols in interested became consumers’ morethe goods the public. People that acquiring were As a consequence, socialist campaigns and social work lost their attraction in the eye of the moremoney mattered peopleto (including the members party)the of than life.community where materialistic, increasingly be to held was Society individualism. and materialism of spread the reform linked with isthe was that argument second inequalities. The increasedcriticism, by which was further growinglikewise subjectto material the the party reports of the working class. The gulf between the workers and the managers was in criticized actually were democracy enterprise of formality the and ownership socialist of 165 EdeHorváth, op. cit., 29-32. In the county the local power relations largely influenced the interpretation of the of interpretation the influenced largely relations power local the county the In The chapter mainly intends to develop two arguments. It seeks to show that the lack 165 74 Ę CEU eTD Collection abolished). In 1970, however, Horváth was elected into the Central Committee. lost hismembershipalso member wasadeputy membership (He anddeputy was who was in office until 1974. Lombos was left out of Pataki, László with the wasreplaced Lombos in1966 because Horváth, however, Central winner was, Committee and Horváth reprimand. ultimate astrong received The Lombos andHorváth case,both the investigated Nyers comrade issuesto political on economic wereported where counties of the secretaries manyittold itwith andsupported facts lottimes a of attheconferences of party the have topic. I the its on credibility loses more theparty we aretrying the harderis the that explainOffice. Wehardpeopleit aretrying toagitation butourexperience into our work Workers don’t believe pricesby increased by that is asitonly 1,5-2% Statistical stated the is decreasing. forint increases. valueof The of workers that and employees particularly should sayprice problem problemsthink,to related policy. wehaveagreater in I we reality, and this clearlyincrease of prices incomeand the growing ofthe peasantry:“On 11 are there page in by wereangeredthe workers the the outthat andfrequently hepointed support working-class report. hethat suggest belonged groupof leaders tothe whowere anxious the loss aboutthe of With theCommunist Youth, had less ambition interveneto in local affairs. Hisincrease comments, however, of prices the discontent of the most frequently mostthe andWe in largest should quantities. leadershipthe the that propose it was reported to the Central Leadership ( Central tothe reported itwas be his authority. to exclusive which Horváth considered 167 conflict. of the reasons economic the mention not does however, Tischler, 2005. cit., op. Tischler, János in: described is case The behavior. improper her with workers wife,his through county the of secretary who first the attacked Horváth allegedly and Factory Wagon of the manager resource misused her leading166 position in the factory and triggered the strong disapproval of the Rezs human chief the was Lombos of wife the because dimension personal another had also conflict The 167 Ę Pataki, who was previously the secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Nyers was the secretary of the economic policy of the Central Committee in 1962-1974. that primarily the prices of those articles increased significantly that workers buy workers that significantly increased articles those of primarily prices the that Központi Vezet Központi The situation became so tense that tense so became The situation Ę ség ). After the party Afterleadership party the 166 75 CEU eTD Collection végrehajtásának f végrehajtásának napirendi anyagai. A tömegmozgalmak politikai vitája’ címtömegszervezetek, és pártszervezetek a tömegkapcsolata, párt ’A Feljegyzés anyagai. napirendi workers feel thattheyhavearightworkers feel onlytowork and managers.high workers unreasonably between wage differentials they have in not nosay function enterprise democracy does are and there production, workplaces confusejudgment. Forinstance, their whennobody asks for their opinionsand in their experience they that shortcomings the because proprietors, be to or power, leading people’s economy’. The greaterwon’t accept that it is notpossible improve to their situation ‘becausepart of the interests of the of the workingandbigfamilies) disapprove of increasethe of prices, particularly class of that clothing. They does not hold workersthe toworking be a class. “Significant county.the material found survey andsocial The that was among discontent widespread masses ofin on of class secretary. conditions working the In 1972 asurveywasconducted the first the working class (those who have low wages of relationship the party the with people”.the to very harmful is prices increase of the that leadership highest the to honestly totell report in of our workers the discontent material the We underline should slow down this process. 169 168 the workingthe its leadership lost leadingby roleand class moreover was taken political the with the change of economic management and the increase in technological requirements is leading They roleargue that wrongly the working that conclude of the decreasing. class They classin toblue-collar workers. criticize theirdeclining the leadership and number blue-collar and workers ofworking-class intellectuals some origin limit term the working of the “A largepart class: oftheworking the leadingrole questioned people county many GYML, X. 415/124/12, MSZMP Gy GYML, X.415/118/13, MSZMP Gy Apparently, the weakening of working-class support was not only a slogan of the only of wasnot a slogan working-class support Apparently, of weakening the According to a report of the political education of the party membership of of the membership of party the education a reportof political the According to Ę bb tapasztalatai, 5. 1972. február 25. Stress is mine. is 25. Stress február 1972. 5. tapasztalatai, bb munkásosztály helyzetér munkásosztály Ħ vita anyagáról, 3. 1971. december8. Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz Ę l szóló KB. és megyei pártszervek határozatai pártszervek és megyei KB. szóló l 168 ”. 169 In manyplaces Ę Ę könyve, könyve, 76 CEU eTD Collection politikai vitája, 7-8.1971. augusztus 31. tömegmozgalmak tömegszervezetek, és pártszervezetek a tömegkapcsolata, párt anyagai.A napirendi 171 8. 1972.augusztus 15. napirendi anyagai. Jelentés apárttagság ideológiai nevelésének eredményeir “In the Sopron Cotton Cotton “In atFactory Sopron the that people are production said conferences onlyworkers work or they do odd jobs for artisans.).” (Signs bematerialismMany of too. can private found among workers them of undertake materialisticbourgeois life. and live apetty they too leaders that have incomes rendered There is awide-spread –viewexaggerated – sometimes in thathigh workingthe class managersdeal hadrefused to ofemployees problems with the busy. becausethey too were reform, economic the since that complained workers blue-collar Mainly employees. the butmanagers they lowersee rarely the They speak with visits. hasty,only administrative A partsignificant of party the leadershipand state and themembers of apparatuspay the profited from factories: “Thethe employees usthattold they think little of protocol visits. itwas primarily that who carssuggested managers the officesandluxurious expensive andmanagers. Western countries, to social Trips the between reinforced workers distance and rewards managerial increased reform Economic intellectuals. and workers between are members of party”. who the intellectuals among foundleadership. be for This unfit also can renderstheworkingopinion class education down on the working class:economic and technical intelligentsia.” According to many report, the “There intellectuals look are the by opinions controlled increasingly be will society development, among scientific-technological with the intellectuals thatleading pessimistic about the working rolethe of in future class they because that the think the lack of more even are Some officials. state and intellectuals engineers, economists, educated 170 GYML, X. 415/117/7, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/117/7, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/122/6, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/122/6, X. GYML, At party meetings workers also criticized the privileged treatment of the leaders: of the treatment theprivileged criticized also workers meetings Atparty deeper than gulf the however, and was, managers The gulfbetween workers Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 171 170 Ę l, problémáiról, afeladatokról, Ę Ę könyve, könyve, 77 CEU eTD Collection agriculture only served the interests of the peasants. Even though in general they agreed they general in though Even peasants. the of interests the served only agriculture has had, stillhas, and make to People sacrifices.’ thought statesubvention that of that class working the is always ‘It remark: the heard We often villages. the of prosperity peasantsthe andthey peoplefactory werebiasedagainst low the wageswith compared the worker-peasant alliance measured the members of party the who are workers “Urban alliance. worker-peasant against the standard of undermine the to which pro-peasantwith governmentthreatenedpolicy, outright an living of the two classes.severalAccordingurban information charged urbanworkers class. working to reports, the In some places Gy from consequences”. rightful critic the the protect cannot party the that say They right. this exercise won’t people practice In deal competent andthem. tothose to with economy state the berevealed should party, the the of administration in the mistakes the that requirement formal a is only It criticism. significantpart of membership party the people holds their that withlivelihood risk their negativereceived aboutthefunctioning democracy.“A opinions many of enterprise incriticize wereafraidpractice to managers employees public. Theparty organizations 9-10. 174 június 6. PB levelévelés KEB a állásfoglalásával foglalkozó május havi taggy floor?” leadingbe somewhere positions given else.Why don’tthey back shop-the them send to Factory theWagon in Sopron: instance be for party insome organizations unjust, to managers and between workers differentials wage the consider They not. are managers criticized, 173 1896. 172 A párt tömegkapcsolata, a pártszervezetek és tömegszervezetek, tömegmozgalmak politikai vitája, op. cit., GYML, X. 415/122/5, MSZMP Gy The popular name of Rába MVG. It was established as the Hungarian Wagon and Machine Factory in Ę r-Sopron, the growing wealth of the peasantry r-Sopron, growingthe of the disapproval of also the triggered peasantry the wealth 173 It was not It managerial high only In the incomes workers. the thatirritated county of 172 In theory, the enterprise council exercised control over the management, but in but management, the over control exercised council enterprise the theory, In , etc. Managers who are relieved of their positions because of their mistakes will mistakes of their because positions of their relieved are Managers who , etc. Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-SopronBizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Összesít 174 Ħ lések f Ę bb tapasztalatairól, 1972. Ę jelentés a 78 CEU eTD Collection helyzete. 1980. szeptember 12. szeptember 1980. helyzete. Végrehajtó Bizottsága. Jegyz Bizottsága. Végrehajtó 178 és atovábbi 9-10. feladatok, 1972. december22. napirendi anyagai. A kispolgári szemlélet és magatartás megnyilvánulásai, az ellenük való harc tapasztalatai tömegmozgalmak politikai vitája’ címtömegszervezetek, és pártszervezetek a tömegkapcsolata, párt ’A Feljegyzés anyagai. napirendi 177 176 tapasztalatai, op. cit political inconsistency and ideological wavering can also be found in the working class. I class. working in the found be also can wavering ideological and inconsistency political that states “The report factory: to the villages ideasthe from came political backward that argued committee member of executive the one instance, For committee. executive politically developed than peasantry the in manifestwas often meetingsthe of the time. free their of all difficultengageto themin party social becauseor work their up agricultural activity took villages. influence in unreliable. of church alsothe strong backward andideologically The the was be which culturally villages, to considered they werebiased againstthe functionaries policy”. ‘peasant’ increased workershavethe by increased 4% this year,while incomethe has peasantry of the by 16%. This of county wages the our In peasantry. incomethe of regulate the we cannot butaverage, leads to nor we can case now, that ensureinit Industrial increaseby future. on the wages 3-4% increasing isthe think that be equallyincreased.this workingshould Idon’t the classand peasantry tension of the thewages five-year plan tothe “According classes: two between the tensions and workers peasantscreated the of material better opportunities thatthe of underlined county the also say that power shouldwe do more for the working class”. have a improvement living with thepeasantry, of the standardof workers’ the of they added that 175 GYML,415/204/4/3, X. MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári GYML, X. 415/121/2, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/121/2, X. GYML, GYML, X.415/118/13, MSZMP Gy A munkásosztály helyzetér munkásosztály Anti-peasant feelings were undoubtedly present in the party. Many party Many party. in the present undoubtedly were feelings Anti-peasant 177 According toareport on the conditions of the commuters of Rába MVG,it was . , 11-12. 176 178 The bias of The biasof functionariesthe working the that was class more Ę könyv a Vagongyári Párt V. B. ülésér B. V. Párt Vagongyári a könyv Ę l szóló KB. és megyei pártszervek határozatai végrehajtásának f végrehajtásának határozatai pártszervek és megyei KB. szóló l Ħ vita anyagáról, 3. 1971. december8. Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz 175 The secretary of the executive committee executive the of secretary The Ę l. A vidékr A l. Ę l bejáró dolgozóink bejáró l Ę Ę könyve, könyve, Ę 79 bb CEU eTD Collection 1977. július 19. adódófeladatokról. politikai sz.3. táblázat. Aközségi családok társadalmi rétegz társadalmi struktúrájának, az osztályviszonyok alakulásának helyzetér alakulásának osztályviszonyok az struktúrájának, társadalmi 180 working class”. negatively mood of ideas influence thepolitical backwardviewsthat in orbring the the socialist home take latter the if know to be good would It commuters. the and semi-skilled among unskilled,the workers, the in the skilled guard,among workingthe class: the old you amorethink need totake differentiated approach things within how and look examine 179 to be politically unjust. they cultivated their household plots ( plots household their cultivated they inearnedinindustry: people agriculture and worked factoriesthe and nearbythe of towns every district. in varied18-24% between “mixed” households worker-peasant the Csorna. Theratio of districtthe and of Sopron, 31%and in 40%respectively ofKapuvár districts the and inof amounted to23% the district Gy households “Pure” peasant 20%. to amounted households “mixed” while worker-peasant in only households Gy the villages of constituted population the 43% of the working-class “pure” that found county the in stratification social of A study one. artificial overwhelming majority of householdsthe from comes mixed sources because family less lessand pureworker and purepeasanthouseholds in county.the The income of the are there that prove surveys Statistical farming. subsidiary from income an have families more andmore that working-class workers the should to explain You activity there. done should dealmore with rolethe of and householdthe plots theevaluation agricultural the of MVG of “The primary organizations party documents: stressedintheparty frequently GYML,415/12/20, X. MSZMP Gy Jelentés a párttagság ideológiai nevelésének eredményeir The conflict between the working class and the peasantry was, however, an however, was, peasantry classandthe theworking between The conflict 180 179 The prosperity The mainly incomes villages cameprosperity the from of double the The material prosperity of the “backward” peasantry was therefore held therefore peasantry was “backward” of the Thematerial prosperity Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Apparátus Bizottsága. iratai. Jelentés a megye Ę háztáji gazdaság r, 22% in the district of Mosonmagyaróvár, 24% in inMosonmagyaróvár, 24% of the district r, 22% Ę l, problémáiról, a feladatokról, op. cit., 21. ) in their free time. This was also was This time. free in their ) Ę l, a változások f változások a l, Ę dése január(1975. 1.), Ę irányáról, az ebb az irányáról, Ę r district, 80 Ę l CEU eTD Collection Végrehajtó Bizottsága. Információs jelentés a Hátsóhíd Gyáregységb a Hátsóhíd jelentés Információs Bizottsága. Végrehajtó 185 irányáról, az ebb az irányáról, 184 taggy jelentések a kül- ésbelpolitikai eseményekr 182 1976. április 27. körében. párttagsága nagyüzemek gépipari a értelmezése életszínvonal-politikánk Az anyagai. napirendi havenot it thisopportunity. but Theyhave hobby is thegardens same”. not do workers Urban work. more with money more make They hours. eight than more work significantly higher than that of industrial workers. It is true butyou should admit that they peasants. “In the income villagesaroundindustrial the centers, of is peasantry the Végrehajtó Bizottsága. Jegyz 183 jelentés. információs havi január 1975. thepeasantry laggedrespect, behind”. this in that, fact the criticized They conditions. working better had they and benefits higher social received class contrary, theworking the on that farms thought, cooperative the peasantry was higher than complainedincome the “Inmany that of workers the livedbetter: that that class places other of the working thought peasants and workers both that class.show however, county, the of The reports membersinformation of the party in the membersin industrial, work agricultural and intellectual workplaces”. 181 groups specific two rather between but andpeasants workers between the not however, collective”. of the work the expenseof atthe plots their private thisthat isbecause havemore they for opportunity to work themselves andthey cultivate standard ofliving of co-operativethe farmers ishigher than of that workers. the They think know how villages wanted and they to them.could afford information reports, peasantry the believedAccording widely hadincome than to that ahigherworkers. the urban workers discussed the sizes of houses people had built in the GYML,415/198/22, X. MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Jelentés a megye társadalmi struktúrájának, azosztályviszonyokalakulásának helyzetér GYML, X.415/12/20, MSZMP Gy GYML,415/528/13, X. MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári GYML, X.415/118/13, MSZMP Gy Ħ lésér Information reports show that urban workers often identified commuters as Ę l, 8. l, Ę l adódó politikai feladatokról, op. cit. op. feladatokról, politikai adódó l Ę könyv a SzerszámgépgyárEgység Pártalapszervezetének 1983.februári Ę r-Sopron MegyeiBizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Havi összefoglaló Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz 182 Ę l, a lakosságl, hangulatáról.1975. február7.- 1976.január7. Ę 184 l, 1978. február. 1978. l, “Many workers arguethat the “Manyworkers 185 The conflict was, Theconflict 181 Theaggregated Ę l, aváltozásokf 183 Ę It was It könyve, 81 Ę CEU eTD Collection […] The managers are not responsible to the employees and this can render the leadership the render and thiscan employees tothe responsible not managers are […] The leaders. tospeakis below theirprepared People criticize don’t generally often 10%. direct are who of attendees proportion The enterprise. the of objectives the they determined how discuss won’t They collective. to the facts decided already final the and plans the announce leaders the in many places that conferences the of importance decreases the It comments. the majorityinformation given to the employees, who consequentlywill could not prepare for meetings: “So hear influence decisions. As reportcomplained,in manyone places wasnopreliminary there the account noopportunity hadto employees conferences, planwasdiscussedatproduction the only once and won’t be able to make substantial enterprise democracy was criticized even within the executive committee. executive within the even wascriticized democracy enterprise of formality The system. socialist established of the contradictions the addressed also tobepeasants. considered werealso fellowworkers because policy government “peasant” the of speak of to the misleading is therefore It workers. urban the and commuters the class: working the within 1977. op. cit.,Makó, Héthy-Csaba 1975). party.(Lajos the than For managers the workers’ criticize to dangerous less it participation considered workers that the argued be safely can it in wagecriticism, political decisions open from refrained probably in people RábaWhile experience. MVG such see also had have to Ágnes claimed 20% while Simonyi,workers were they because them on op.down looked nobody cit., that said workers theirflats. With respect totheperceptionof social distance there is one more ambiguous data: 80% of the they did not interact with the managers and white-collarworkers out of work and only 10% was invited to workers and managersthe also between testifiesdistance toasolid enterprise social of the hierarchy: perception moreThe than half of theworkers prosperity. said thatpersonal their in interest an took enterprise the that believed third one than less and proposals and conceptions workers’ the consider to willing was management enterprise the that thought respondents ofthe third a only that remarkable more nevertheless, them stated that they would like to participate only in decisions concerning workers the their that immediate work.surprising It is, much declared not themselvesprobably It is to be more satisfied with distance. the party social than withand the trade union hierarchy and that the majority of enterprise of perception questions measuring thepeople’ satisfaction party,the with tradeunion, management the the and the generalin had a pooropinionof workers’ participationin decision-making. surveyThe avariety included of conducted the Rába in factory – How(“Automation workers think the of likewiseit”) that found theworkers 186 The The cited researchof Lajos Csaba Héthy Makó and (Lajos Héthy-Csaba Makó,cit, 1975)that op. was While much of the criticism was connected with the economic reform, the workers the reform, with economic the was connected of criticism While much the 186 Even though 82 CEU eTD Collection továbbfejlesztés feladatai, 8-9. 1974. március 29. a és érvényesülése vezetés egyszemélyi az helyzete, demokrácia üzemi Az anyagai. napirendi criticize their mistakes. The management often union”. not evenaskdoes trade management the often The mistakes. their criticize evaluate the refuse leadershipand to people democratic Inthe various despotic. forums 187 a system of appointments and the party controls the appointment of the managers, this right You can say that the trade union has the right tocriticize the managers. As long as we have day. next the notice his get he will boss, his criticize to dares manager low-level if a But call union cannot themback. the trade because unioncommittee they to the turn trade that the higher leadership. If employees are not satisfied with the work of managers, itis in vain keep their it positions?Does depend ontheemployees it themselves? dependsNo, only on long Forhow ofunion trade leadership can the leadershipcommittee. employees and the party the management, mean the today. I leaderson employees depend whatextent ask to can You makeachoice. toreally employees enabling twoor alternatives three introduced ideas?own is There noteven caseone of wheremanagershave a production conference realize our to are wetrying or titles these whoarewinning it workers really Is engineers. inindustry, andincluding work ‘eminent technicians and 3,300of the them worker’ only of title awardedthe people were 5,225 county, In brigade’. our and‘socialist worker’ unfortunately. for instance, Let’s take, awardsofsocialist such distinctions as ‘eminent me asked if employees can influence the production conferences. They can’t, before spoke who Thecomrade democracy? realizeenterprise weareto how wonder one makes This enterprise. the of management the influence to opportunity no have employees enforce union intereststo waswidely “Various surveysknown: 60-65% show that of period. The sarcasm in farthe how went criticism whichshows of committee, executive inthecounty criticized contributions suggests, at any rate, that the inability of the trade GYML, X. 415/134/1, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/134/1, X. GYML, The weak influence of the trade union over management decisions was strongly was decisions management union over thetrade of influence The weak Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 187 Ę könyve, 83 CEU eTD Collection main targets of social criticism. The extravagant lifestyle of the new rich triggered envy: triggered rich new the of lifestyle extravagant The criticism. social of targets main The appearance ofthenew rich of importance the downgrading classthe category. wealth. Thesocial position of people wasincreasingly bymaterial means,determined position in accumulate income were their inagriculture, a better whoto could supplement families, their and managers because disadvantaged feel could rightfully working class the Inthis competition andworkers. urban aspeasants, identified often whowere commuters, instance for too: within internal working between class, reinforced the divisions Growingmaterialism strata. social other sawof when theprosperity workers among signs in by living, of particularly standard workingthe class–propagated party –reflected the holdclassbe not to Nor socialist did workers wastheleading proprietors. role of the is of it working the a largepart that recognized documents party instance, for that remarkable, situation; political and economic their with workers of part the on discontent genuine reflected Criticism hardliners. of the intentions the against very probably a decision?” until we know the standpoint of the ministry. But if we know it, then why should we make the internal management of the enterprises, it was said that it is useless to make a decision enough maketo fun of the system of democratic centralism: “Last time when we discussed union”. trade the of recommendation the upon appointed only exists on paper. You cannot name one person in the county who has been rejected or 189 188 Ibid., 15. Ibid., 5-6. In the era of the economic reform,increasing material differentiation was one of the The well howabove illustrate far quotations in went social this dialogue – period 189 188 The speaker was alsobold 84 CEU eTD Collection október24. napirendi anyagai. Akispolgári szemlélet és magatartás elleni harc tapasztalatai, további feladatok, 6. 1972. 191 bourgeois belong to the new elite”. tothe belong bourgeois of petitthe andpart leaders managers majority and enterprise state employee.of The of an average muchthat higherthan is income whose a new hasemerged, elite that non-wealthy.divided members and wealthy into the the of Grass-roots argued party the initisclasses andstrata; into practice, society istoday divided only our theoretically are distinct and even conflicting, even if they membersare of the party. They also said that within the party membership. People believe that the interests of the leaders and employees hasincreased economic management, to respect with particularly leader manifestations, of number anti- the that inquiries brigade from the “We newelite:among can conclude the alargeof nomenklatura the people counted information part According to reports, people. of financial status the on circumstancessocial property; expressed contrary,the good Wealth became visible in society: people no longer sought to conceal their private of lifestyle. features this frequently were condemned mostamong goods consumer the symbols like of status bighousesand trips weekendcottages, tothe andWestWestern 190 members of the party sharply criticized the phenomenon that it is not work but the car, the car, the but work not is it that phenomenon the criticized sharply party the of members occasionallypetit bourgeois mentality was widespread intheparty leadership, where materialism and enrichment in interested blue-collar materialmorethe values: workers, were becoming to “According without society. whole the of affected work has gained it and more wasbecoming and more widespread all agreed that of organizations county the ground. bourgeoisof party was butthe characteristic petitthe asanattitude condemned Factorymoney for scramble individualism. The and materialism most notably features”, “capitalist workers who were GYML, X. 415/123/8, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/123/8, X. GYML, Jelentés a párttagság ideológiai nevelésének eredményeir nevelésének ideológiai a párttagság Jelentés The party documents give abundant material for the criticism of the appearance of of appearance the for the criticism material give abundant The party documents 191 The information reports similarly Theinformation people thatreports underlined Ę 190 r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę l, problémáiról, a feladatokról a problémáiról, l, , op. cit., 13. op. cit., Ę könyve, 85 CEU eTD Collection 194 193 less about care people declined: has solidarity theCollective success. individual of achievement problemsin the of the andconnections play socialistsocial Cunning,backdoors role an ever-increasing disgrace. others”. asa lifestyle regarded and isalmost matter, a modest that that and weekend-house the plot 192 did notconsider itimmoral to make things on the side or violate labor discipline”. petitbourgeois egoism inothers, see they refused theto samein mistake They themselves. workingmembers class:“Whileworking-class party farmers collective and condemned party committee of Gy of committee party The collective. for the unselfishly worked who people those ridiculed often that reported people incommunal affairs work. The unpaid and party of social committee Sopron of interest declining wasthe materialism of manifestation another reports, the to According corrupt”. immensely become has society that arguing further, even went Sopron given tomorerise foropportunity fraud and unlawful Theprofit-making. party school of has mechanism economic the that this into read to possible is also It lost’. is humanism socialist and profit, is criterion chief the because view capitalist the reinforces mechanism economic that the think -‘many people Sopron) of committee mistakes (executive of is mainsource income the of differentiation increasing the that think inequalities. “People social increased reform economic the that argued organizations them.belong Party to not andit wereangry did that strata of increasingsocial certain prosperity the people observed against “petitthe bourgeois” mentality. nothough cure was Even found,itwas clear that fight how to of and question the school discussed party the committee even executive the Akispolgári szemlélet és magatartás elleni harc tapasztalatai, további feladatok, op. cit., 5. Ibid., 23. Jelentés a párttagság ideológiai nevelésének eredményeir nevelésének ideológiai a párttagság Jelentés The appearance of the new rich was a widely criticized social phenomenon and Ę r put it bluntly that socialist consciousness “is not fashionable; not “is consciousness socialist that bluntly it put r 192 This attitude, however, Thisattitude, appearedinthe also Ę l, problémáiról, a feladatokról a problémáiról, l, , op. cit., 22-23. 193 194 86 CEU eTD Collection magatartás, életmód helyzetér napirendi anyagai. Jelentés Gy 199 198 197 196 absence of absence sincerity.of There arepeople follow whoalways the‘party line’ in public while is the attitude bourgeois features petit ofthe characteristic most the “Oneof attitude: as an was dangerous, butembourgeoisement that asbourgeois petit a stratum was notthe deviation and political “petitmentality,bourgeois” consumers and conspicuous disloyaltywere charged ideological with to the party. informationStudents reports. Conspicuous consumption was oneof of the chief thecharacteristics of partythe school argued that it principles. socialist to socialistmode of consumption, it was clear that consumer society did not work according spoke of the agitators only money.though ininterested Even being with others charged the class eachsocial materialist: more hadbecome society underlined that reports the that dotheir adecent duty to job.We’vea andgot thousand one problems here”. is it that forget They is. bonus the much how ask first managers when normal is it but jobs for private doing workers “Wein criticize bonuses: chiefly interested werealso managers socialistbrigades only for bonuses.worked workplace insteadof for collective”. the working to the fact that “more and more people look for profitable occupationsrelation in outside explained of they the which people, of activity social declining the about complained egoismabout including everywhere, the partymembership”. debates passionate are There every class. social infected which is illness asocial money. It for work people organizations, willing“unselfishness has and are only to disappeared beisolated”. will often livelike that to wants whoever 195 GYML, X. 415/122/4, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/122/4, X. GYML, Ibid Ibid Ibid Ibid . . . . , 8. , 9. , 7. The extravagant lifestyle of the new rich was also addressed critically in critically alsoaddressed was rich new lifestyle the of The extravagant Ę l, 18-19.l, 1972. április 11. Ę r városbanr a pártszervezeti fegyelem, akommunista munkamorál, Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 198 The secretary of the county observed that 197 195 It was noted critically that some According to many primary Accordingto party 196 The reports also Thereports 199 No wonder Ę könyve, 87 CEU eTD Collection paid for from paidfor budgetof the people’s the economy”. workplace, the luxurious equipmentof offices frequent, and butunjustified, foreign trips, in the Employees extravagance criticized hasbeen created. gentry socialista society the of today live like the gentry of the old world (party school of Sopron). In Gy leaders the that believe andthey examples negative from the generalize people because leaders economic andsocial state, members, whenit party morethe dangerous concerns all are lifestyle petit-bourgeois of the manifestations has. These someone lover and house from the county that the benchmark “We bourgeoismanifestationwarnings receivepetit conduct: several condemned a of as of social ‘rank’ Adultery was life. family irreproachable tolive an expected leaders-were – particularly is what kind of car, villa, party the of Members code. ethical conservative hadit arather mentality, bourgeois” “petit weekend- their defeatism”. with infecting others the results, our Westand They the of underestimate picture difficulties. anthe glorify depicts exaggerated and spreadsthewildest rumors group in This private. ‘earnest’ opinion they their give 201 200 member leading engineers) isleading harmfulmember that for very engineers)becausepeople believe them class.negative veterinary The example localthe elite of non-party (doctors, surgeons, ‘superior’ membershipof bea wealthier, hasstarted fashionable, expressing to ceremonies inreligious years,participation recent In of Pannonhalma. concerts organ of the features legalized leading (doctors, andformer are teachers andengineers) their regular students of contacts the Benedictine the that information We received youth.win have over to beat-masses organizes even church The Bible-classes. attend regularly school-children of members if “19.7% connections,even an party.charged of atheist they were religious with Ibid Akispolgári szemlélet és magatartás elleni harc tapasztalatai, további feladatok, op. cit., 9. . , 10. 201 200 Members of the new rich were also Although the party Although party the condemned the Ę r people say that 88 CEU eTD Collection that artiststhat lived and sportsmen, who invery material hadgood circumstances, still decided whofromretire social andwork the administration of Some affairs. public argued students people, completely absorbs material goods of acquisition the fact that with itthe explain addressed in discussion:the “The students see anincreasingintroversion in society. They also society was of indifference The party”. the of principles true the morethan mattered ‘socialist connections’ factthat the criticized Students very extravagantly. act dress and ‘gentlemen’. Someleaders havefamily members who also donot know the limits and who imitating ape lifestyle ‘upperclass’, the to of the living andstart standardof certain tripsThe petit totheWest.bourgeois attitude becomes aproblem when people reacha preferred alsoaskedwhyleaders Students their towards subordinates. behave haughtily they and infallible be to themselves believe they collective, the on down look who leaders are from masses.There the detached havebecome origin leadersworking-class of state and Managers ‘aristocracy’. own its created hadalso system social our that noted students kinds of social phenomena persisted and that social differences kept on growing: “Many petitbourgeois in attitudes workingthe class”. you canfind a Marxist among thebourgeois petit and,itis conversely, possible also tofind drew the right conclusion that itis notenough to consider only the class position of people; party school consequently distinguished between class position “Studentsand mentalities. the at Attendees year. following the in school party the of agenda the on also was topic of social equality but its members were also considered to be ideologically unreliable. kispolgárság és az ellene folyó harc feladatai’ c. téma feldolgozásának tapasztalatairól, 2. 1973. április 6. április 1973. 2. tapasztalatairól, feldolgozásának c.téma feladatai’ harc folyó ellene az és kispolgárság 203 iseverything allowed. feladatok, op. cit 202 GYML, X.415/131/39, MSZMP Gy A kispolgári szemlélet és magatartás megnyilvánulásai, az ellenük való harc tapasztalatai és a további The “strugglematerialistmentality” against a wasnot verysuccessful because the . , 10. 202 Theappearance of newrichthe not violate did only principlethe Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Jelentés ’A 203 The debates show that criticisms of these 89 CEU eTD Collection (1973, no. 3).The(1973, flat value is1,000,000 the Ft. Accordingintroduced article of the about július havi információs jelentés. article the by wereoutraged “Theit employees described: that phenomenon social the andnot article following the of publication the criticized they instance, for that agitators, of characteristic was It of consumerism. part anintegral was wealth increasing since successful, really not it ineven was this but public eyes inthe the of less attractive render wealth to intended Propaganda values. non-materialist superiority moral of the demonstrate to but reality social change this notto was objective main fact, andthatthe an accepted already egoism. their noproduced for profit judgment country, the formoral expressed themselves, only of a and economy people’s the of expense the at well lived rich the that criticism the collective: 205 currency”. Western with be sparing we haveto place, in given first the that, from West, the display. the workers, According to country the insteadshould bebuyingindustrial tools workers. It is a general questionwindows, which is a capitalistwas negatively export, received among the blue-collar which worker canin shop furniture expensive “The of appearance economy. people’s harmful for the afford to buy any of the products country but only enriched managers, alsocondemned people consumption conspicuous as on managers’complaint that foreign andtrips no for expensive offices the produced profit hadsociety more egoistic. become to leave the country illegally”. leave country to the 204 Havi összefoglaló jelentésekkül- a és belpolitikai eseményekr Ibid . , 4. Even materialpropaganda that suggests unequal the distribution wealthof was The image of the “idle rich” also appeared in information reports. Like the reports. ininformation alsoappeared “idle The imageof the rich” 205 Living roomwith comfortsandaswimming full pool Conspicuous consumption was confronted with the interest of the larger 204 It was apparently ingrained in public inwas that ingrained public consciousness apparently It Ę l, alakosság hangulatáról,op.cit., 1975. publishedin Lakáskultúra 90 CEU eTD Collection the materialistic values. renounce Inand rich of the world of the emptiness human the to recognize but adults of the world unequal the young characters of thesocialist setnovel of values. This is manifest intheenjoy increasing social differences and and the privileges others that some of the whichis socialist do only its in state ordernot.while more and more “capitalist” The elements appearthatmessage questionthe of the book is, however, not to change consolation that society can offer to the poor heroes of the novel. the of heroes poor the to offer can society that consolation Karambol 208 207 what Hungarian jeans cost in the state of theprice jeansfordouble Western store. real local wereselling Roma that complained also can believehardly this. They see noin point publishing such annoying articles”. workers The it. for money the saved they and flat the built couple young a author, the to 206 jelentések a pártéletr a jelentések employees. Half of the respondents (52.2%) agreed with the statement that the employees the that statement the with agreed (52.2%) respondents the of Half employees. mass organizationsit andonly that depended political(21.1%) the on one-fifth of activity and party itthe depended on that 26% management, the on depended democracy enterprise that answered 40.7% democracy: of enterprise leftout were employees respondents, majority the the of to According “inadequate”). 8.7%: “schematic’”, answer (18.1%: relevant give failed or aclear to ineconomy. One-fourth role hadaleading working class importantmostin believed social issuesand less the(14.6%) thatthe and even political rights decision had class working the that meant class working the of role leading the that thought (26.3%) members.one-fourth Only representative included 1,000party sample socialistpropaganda, whichwasrespond unableto newthe to The social environment. inequalities. change learnpropaganda wasnot to property tolive butrather relations to existing with messageof future: thesocial distant tothe postponed society was of an egalitarian condemned,but no one knew precisely what rendered consumption excessive. The creation manifested themselves among their school-age children. Even the official Hungarian literature reflected this social reality. Agood example is the youth novel Ibid GYML, X. 415/132/54, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/132/54, X. GYML, . , 4 A survey of 1972 revealed that even the party membership related critically membershipto related even the party that revealed A surveyof 1972 (Budapest Ę , l, a lakosság hangulatáról, 1973. július havi információs jelentés Gy jelentés információs havi július 1973. hangulatáról, lakosság a l, 1979) by Anna Dániel, which received the Gorkiy prize. The novel depicts a society, a depicts novel The prize. Gorkiy the received which Dániel, byAnna 1979) Karambol it is already remarkable that the moral superiority is the only Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Információs iratai. Apparátus Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 207 The material differences between families between differences Thematerial 208 Excessive consumption was consumption Excessive Ę r városából, 2. városából, r 206 Parents 91 CEU eTD Collection 210 Melléklet 1-5. Marxists. between indifference towork the inmoral non- Marxists and attitude andattitudes 3.3% evidently connecthuman notdid with party conduct membership: saw only 4.6% a sustainthough partysoughtthe to its the moral the respondents members, of respectability inmanifest thebutthat Marxists,only difference was ideas.Even political 54.6%thought political opinions: 92%saw a between difference thinkingthe of Marxistsandnon- Many didrespondents not think that party membership played a decisive role inshaping had influence hardly any opportunity theenterpriseto decisions thatconcerned them. 209 by young people, andthat many youngincluding people – working-class youth - were attractive Western lifestyles wereseen too as party hardliners arguedthat Occidentalism’: ‘excessive waschargedwith in The youth particular products. desired acquire the could becausethey were envied theWest frequently to whocould travel andthose status, of symbols wereregardedas consumer Western goods that information reports from clear that socialism offered a higher standard of living to its surface from phenomena”. the conclusions subjects than did capitalism. drawing exaggerated membership ofrigidissues. of interms categories, thinks the Part It ismaterialistic purely to existence limit to tend and consciousness and existence socialist understandingPeople of have anarrow unreasonablepessimism. or is either self-deception result The interests. economic universalize alsopeople who are future andthere distantthe in only socialism berealized will that think interests, others of is noconflict where there socialism seekarealized “Somepeople membership: party the of ideological uncertainty Ibid Jelentés a párttagság ideológiai nevelésének eredményeir nevelésének ideológiai párttagság a Jelentés . ,12. Given the closeness of prosperous, capitalist Austria, it was very difficult to argue to difficult very itwas Austria, capitalist prosperous, of closeness the Given 209 Finally, the survey could not clarify concepts of clarify Finally, surveycouldnotof concepts the socialism, the which suggests 210 Ę l, problémáiról, a feladatokról a problémáiról, l, , op. cit 92 . , CEU eTD Collection alapján, 7. 1974. október9. napirendi anyagai.Jelentés Gy 214 Végrehajtó Bizottsága. Információs jelentés a Járm 213 jelentések a pártéletr a jelentések 212 tapasztalatai és a további feladatok. 1978. szeptember8. reform. economic peopleregard ingeneral not industrialthe working did classasabeneficiary of the that show reports, in the appear which rich”, “new the of criticisms abundant the said, members manygrass-roots when in wereonlyleaders interested own prosperity.That their from conduct exemplary communist expect to wasdifficult with It system. the connected criticisms show, in As than rather with thedeeds. with words bourgeois” attitudes against “petit foughtparty the eyes of the publicluxuries. no were trips the and weekend-house the car, the that argued instance, a segment of the new rich for committee, A member executive the of policy. standard-of-living popularity the with was in fact closely gain itself to sought and theparty in consumption, interested became increasingly comparison of wages and prices “only served the interests countries”. interests of capitalist the servedthe “only andof comparison prices wages from Factory much the theWagon argued that were higher. Aninformation report livingpeoplecost of indicated that wagesin the that –which generally West knew the butalso the andHungary Austria between only not wagedifference the should compare case. the been previously had than lifestyles Western inWest: Gy money. all in above interested Bizottsága. Jegyz 211 GYML, X. 415/134/2, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/134/2, X. GYML, GYML,415/211/33, X. MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári GYML, X. 415/132/55, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/132/55, X. GYML, GYML,415/197/3, MagyarSzocialista X. Munkáspárt (MSZMP)Vagon-és Magyar Gépgyári Végrehajtó The “fight against materialism” could not become successful because people successful become couldmaterialism” not The “fight against Ę r informants foundr important it toreport peoplethat wereless fascinated by Ę könyv a Vagongyári Párt V. B. ülésér Ę l, a lakosság hangulatáról, 1973. szeptember havi információs jelentés Gy jelentés információs havi szeptember 1973. hangulatáról, lakosság a l, Ę r-Sopron megyer-Sopron munkássága helyzetér 211 Tourists evidently returned with positive images of the of with positive returned images evidently Tourists Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Információs iratai. Apparátus Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ħ II. Pártalapszervezett Ę l. A munkásfiatalok közöttvégzett nevel 212 Agitators pointed out that one that out pointed Agitators Ę l a KB l a 1974. márciusi állásfoglalása Ę l, 1982. április. Ę r városából. r Ę 214 Ę könyve, 213 munka The 93 CEU eTD Collection január havi információs jelentés. A pártélet eseményei. A pártélet jelentés. információs havi január their competence”. political requirement to prepare them for the fulfillment of a given position and ensure important isit anequally that underlined and butthey organizations social party, state itengage in is recognizedThe speakers important workers the to that of leadership the the social appreciation with demandof the consciousnesspolitical andof We other factors. increase need to the physical work and introduceleading role of the working class. We should influence the activity of the workers primarily the perspective issue of the dealtthe with “Many speakers meetings. agenda of the on was alsopublic of a worker’s career.class was discussedby party membership.the According toinformation thesubjectreports, attitudes of the working class.reform It was in fact the lastera time therevealmasses leading inrole a ofreal thea workingsocialremarkablyengage the to attempt was an there and communication, channels of blocked formerly dialogue on the socialhighclass and the party.effect The internallevel division of ofthe party overthe the economic reform. reformof opened working the between communication the controlled up effectively apparatus party the regime, concern The materials amongof the the partyEnding thesocial dialogue regarding the 215 improve its communication with the working class. working the with communication its improve to efforts madeconsiderable party alsothe but because economicto the reform respect regime. We can speak of a social dialogue between the party and the workers not only with workers the theirthat opinions and mattered working-classremained support crucial for the to demonstrate to itaimed more open criticism, andencouraging debates social space of workers’and that welfare demonstrate its wascentral policy. to widening public the By Havi összefoglaló jelentésekkül- a és belpolitikai eseményekr Since the open discontent of the working class posed a problem of legitimacy to the to legitimacy of aproblem posed class working of the discontent open Since the 215 The party evidently sought to renew the social settlement with labor with settlement social the renew to sought evidently party The Ę l, alakosság hangulatáról,op.cit., 1975. 94 CEU eTD Collection Unfortunatelyfind do suchphenomena”.we he had sprayed insecticide on his If plants. itrained he would spray have to them again. Hesaidheasked himwhathe thinking wasbecause might rain,was about. that worried it comrade.noticed I listening thathewasn’t tome, butkeptonlooking out of window.the I butin tokeep upwithorder Joneses.the Ivisited county one and hadwith achat a leading in them, rest to in order not houses weekend build people instance, For means. honest by money acquired – even has if someone itbecomes omnipotent that but increases, it that not interestsfrom own of interests the community.the The property problem with private is their separate They own. their on have they what in only plates; their on have others much same amount of food on his plate as they have. Some people are not interested in how Congress “At Ninth Party the society: consumer andof reality the propaganda socialist between himselflengthy with a on privateattack property, whichdisplayed widening the gap whoassumedsecretary his county party the introduced of inJunecommittee, duties 1974, newfirst The slogans. political same old the in as repeating materials party recorded the midfrom are be functionaries 1970sthe can observed: the re-dogmatization outright cit., 23. 217 216 regarding the new social relations. new the social regarding message had relevant no secretary the that merely reflected agenda; speech the on the understanding economicthe of policy Economic party.the obviouslyof equality not was little andhisspeech showed apparently over-zealous secretary the was line, but party class. One objective of the party-controlled media was to give a positive image of labor, wastogiveimage of media apositive of party-controlled One class. the objective Az üzemi demokrácia helyzete, az egyszemélyi vezetés érvényesülése és a továbbfejlesztés feladatai, op. feladatai, továbbfejlesztés és a érvényesülése vezetés egyszemélyi az helyzete, demokrácia üzemi Az 1966. 3 December and November 28 between held was Congress Party Ninth The The attempt of openness did not, however, last long and at the ideological level level an long ideological at the last and however, not, did of openness The attempt Similarly, old the political dogmas hadnorelevantmessage tooffer working the 216 comrade Kádár said that communists seek to ensure that everybody has the has everybody ensure that seek to communists said that Kádár comrade 217 Party leaders of course had to represent the represent hadto leaderscourse of Party 95 CEU eTD Collection 5. enterprise democracy was again on the agenda, the strongest criticism was that not every not wasthat criticism the strongest agenda, onthe again was democracy enterprise When reinforcedattitude. this and theideological hardliners the social triumph of context, wider theirunderstand to immature tobetoo considered workers typically Functionaries mood in our country – and how very true itis!” public and political climate is agood there declare that We often alliance. worker-peasant the of stability the is condition further a and class working the of satisfaction general of our social system, which isnotcontradicted by the dynamism of our development, is the theharmony of condition important most and first the fact that the is awareof party – the topicin today of executive committee county.the the is Because–andit goodtoknowthis education and our repeatedeverythingis that and beautiful This good. is pointthe of party the resolution on public discussions of the conditionsfittingly of theand working truly. class in the words of driverthis Yes. –you yearn study.to A simple manhas formulated this very thatOur isstrength our and - and anicelandscape or fresh water meat, fruit, tasty yearn sweet for study! You yearn to truth lie in renderingformulation:study.’yearn we ‘it Markthe with to goes world-view thatwe quote, our people able to yearnmoney for and they still decidedclasses of primary school. These people won’tto getpromoted, they probablygo won’t getmore to schooleighth and seventh the finish to decided – because,dam-keepers and cleaners drivers, - Directorate as one of the drivers saidcounty, Ilistened to a radio– report.and It was about why the workers of I the Water Conservancy in the class of working the on conditions the report Ireceived the “When social reality: adifferent experienced increasingly they that given particularly tothecause, over workers than angerwin rather to inclined image wasmore false The lifefrom workers. of the butas followingthe contribution shows,of an editor propaganda was very much detached 218 Jelentés Gy The quotations reveal the basic contradictions of socialist propaganda. ofsocialist contradictions revealtheThe quotations basic Ę r-Sopron megye munkássága helyzetér Ę l aKB 1974. márciusi állásfoglalása alapján, op. cit., 218 96 CEU eTD Collection március havi információs jelentés. Stress is mine. is Stress jelentés. információs havi március 220 Vagon-és Gépgyárés a Gy együttes határozata beindításának és gyakorlati alkalmazásának 1983-84. évi tapasztalatai a Rába Magyar napirendi anyagai. Amunkahelyi demokrácia továbbfejlesztésér more surprising that several workersblue-collar contributedwith suchclever opinions the countyand wasthe country. even opinions ontheirworkIt of onthe problems and also aired with such honesty professionally excellent conference in county,our which at problems have could been opinion of delegates–thatthe until now hadnotthere been such a well-organized and say politics.something employees to about “Allof our agreed–and the wasalso this have to expected wererarely people simple that comments were there documents party behind Consumerism the private sector. graduallypushed unpaid social and political work industry lagged in state classbecausewages of working industrial the material discontent inequalities the triggered hand,growing other Onthe criticized. was social significance increasing had an of ever gained wealth and the accumulation materialist more hadbecome society hand, factthat the Onthe one arguments. contradictory speak of two indeed,can, one labor of response the to respect With class. social every of behavior the influenced it but materialism wasmuch criticized, Apparent begun. already of had that a social process in that importance property of theincreasing theproduct private consciousness was public between the social classespropaganda. Even toexplainthough wereattempts there material growing inequalities through the economic workingthe class –all more sowhen the increasingly contradicted experiences social reform, the examined documents show within apparatus. party the existed workers” “simple the bias against a certain showthat in italics The sentences steward. the party with had opinions their reconciled party group 219 Havi összefoglaló jelentésekkül- a és belpolitikai eseményekr GYML, X. 415/156/1, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/156/1, X. GYML, This patronizing attitude effectively hindered communication between effectively party hinderedcommunication This the and patronizing attitude Ę r megyei Állami Épít . It was thatsimpleworkers avery surprising fact . It gavetheir Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę ipari Vállalat területén. 1984. július 11. Ę Ę l, alakosság hangulatáról,op.cit., 1975. l hozottMT-SZOT1049. sz. Elnökség 219 Even in the official the in Even Ę könyve, ”. 220 97 CEU eTD Collection egoistic and solidarity egoistic had solidarity and from declined; in wasexpressed this withdrawal social work in party become peopleAccording more work had people. eyesof reports, to the the of community and devaluation movementlife the declinethe the of the of about complaints community indifference andactivities. Indeed, there wereabundant to work party showing with chargedleaders) its were even (and members party of the remarkable that itphenomena. have beenreinforced maywell butis This criticism functionaries, by party itwas onesocial most sources, criticized widely the of introduced light of in the the less important for the self-identification of people. became therefore category Theclass in agriculture). work or entrepreneur be aprivate also could a worker inequalities(e.g. newgrasp the failed social to categories class traditional the argument supportthe that surveys, too, class. Introduced spread intheworking also individualism income, additional meant sector private in the employment Since class. theworking within itwas aconflict interpretations, traditional to thus, according peasants; as regardedcommuters Many workers andpeasants. workers between tension perceived society becouldnot linked directly to traditionalthe A classes. example good is the in lines newdividing the that recognition the reflect materials party Even social processes. ongoing visible rendered merely era reform the of atmosphere liberal relatively the reform; moral the toattack ground growth the of property.private process. Since part of the new rich belonged to the ruling elite of the system, the party lost activists. The party could condemnmaterialism,itbutdid little toreverse thissocial beinto background:the social peoplesoughtto partof consumer society than rather The individualization of society manynegativetriggered responsesamong people; of Materialism individualism products notthe and economic the weretherefore 98 CEU eTD Collection november14-15-i határozata alapján), 1973.június 28. különböz November14-15. In: and communal andactivity. communal 1978, 382.)On the execution of Gy resolutionin the the state socialist industry lag behind.” (Közlemény az MSZMP Központi Bizottsága ülésér statement that when the standardthe of with agree living ofmuch very the people masses the has beenimproving, “Therefore it improvement. is not general right the that with the workers pace kept of not had industry 222 class consciousness (see: id., op. cit., 2004). Mark Pittaway develops a similar argument in: id., op. cit., 2005.221 Gy popularity popularity it of of automatically increase on losingthe the consumption, therisked support overspending growing and indebtedness.Since governmentthe based unambiguously its to led it and country, the of realities economic the with in line not was policy of-living re-dogmatization. ideological and dialogue social of closing the its tooffermaterial instead silence. itself in infor Thismanifested concessions exchange choosing class, working industrial the of criticisms political the consider to refused party unambiguously standard-of-living committed itself tothe policy. increase and it government decided1972 the to thewagesofindustrial workers, in of popularity Fearing loss the steps wereplanned. more radical though reform, even disillusioned with ideology. that values, many acrisis ideology rendered people and social which of reality created subordinates towere leaders who themselves tobeselfish considered expectnot greedy could and their resist the “petitfamily. Hypocrisy had a detrimental effect on social moral perspectivesbourgeois” within society; more of outside andhadthe less time forsocial relations worked life people because mentality. community on impact a negative had This example. the follow to try to many motivated The contrast betweensuccessful thebuilding groups: large of housesin villages the outraged public,the but also communist The official justification of the decision stated that the standard of living of the workers of the state-owned ofthe workers of the of living standard the that stated decision ofthe justification official The Erzsébet Szalai also argues that the individualizationof the late Kádár regime largely erodedworking- Ę r-SopronMegyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz The triumph of the hardliners proved illusory for two reasons. First, thestandard- First, reasons. for two illusory proved hardliners the of The triumph economic the thatstopped only factor the not wassurely labor of The response Ę bérezési formák bevezetésének hatása a dolgozók helyzetére és a munkaer ésa helyzetére dolgozók a hatása bevezetésének formák bérezési A MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt határozatai ésdokumentumai 1971-1975 221 The accumulation of wealth triggered the envy of other, less envy other, of the wealth triggered of The accumulation Ę r-Sopron county r-Sopron see GYML,415/128/1, MSZMP X. Ę könyve, napirendi anyagai. A 222 This meant that the that meant This Ę bérfejlesztés ésa bérfejlesztés mozgásra (a KB (a mozgásra , Budapest, Ę l 1972. 99 CEU eTD Collection sense the end of the social dialogue can be considered symbolic. marks the beginning period The class. a with identification the decreased which of individualism, the growing notably dissolution of the working eyesthe of people. This was by accompanied a gradual change of mostvalues,social class as a traditionalin important more wealth rendering positions theclass rearranged market expansion the of class; in this The of consumption. increase the towards workers the it orientated rather alternative and consider party the leftist The showedthat any refused to period end reform the of workers. for the message social relevant nohad party the that reflected well The silence from In committee. altogether 1980sthe disappeared the working-classagenda. topics the longerin executive no the conditions addressed class were of working least the slogans. reality and precisely theof triumph of return hardlinersthe meant oldthe the political seemed illusory. The old ideology was inevitably to doomed failurein newthis social and lightsocial of egalitarian society newdifferencesthecreation the groups, inthean of significant of income the control not could state the market, the of expansion the With life. of quality better this experience might they how people tell to unable was but socialism, quality life of better under stressed the Propaganda valuesmaterialism. human over its social egalitarian system the representfailed program, convincingly to superiority the of findingneednewaddress of message a social to workingthe realize Havingfailed class. to communication withgive to failure party’s the reflected dialogue end social to the decision the importantly, people a new basis people failureof with the andperhapsmore standard-of-living policy.the Second, in a situation when the party was in urgent The working class as a social category became problematic also for the party; at 100 CEU eTD Collection than to the ideological message of party.the message of ideological than to the community-building to responsive more were people interviews life-history the of light life was often formal, many people recalled these communitieslater While memoirs by brigade to according were overwhelmingly state. the sponsored with a sense of loss. In the which lectures andmovies), concerts, (theatre, cultural events various collectively attend with this general educational project because the members of the brigades were expected to hadmuch in common movement brigade socialist The collective. strengthen socialist the to promoteindustrialization ideology - soughtto communistthe among people the aswell education and culture. This initiative –which was widely used in periodthe of socialist socialpronounced policy workingthe towards class in 1970swasthethe supportof situation. financial their improve to in order initiative private on rely to people thusencouraging reforms market further with difficulties economic increasing the to responded regime the 1980s the In wages. their with discontented be to themselves 1970s; aquestionnairemajority as 1976 shows, the of declaredof respondents the the of half second the in already steam of out ran however, policy, standard-of-living comparisonthe of incomethe of working-class differentthe in groups county.the The in levelindustrial Sincewages oneaimwas enable 1973. sources the wage differentials, to of increase masse, wasthe en class working industrial the of improve situation the to intended measure, which Onespectacular benefit workers. the were aimed to that programs various workingthe thepolicy strengtheningof and standard-of-livingthe social classwith One of the most positive initiatives that the regime revitalized as part of partof their as revitalized regime the that initiatives positive mostOne of the After failure the of social the regimedialogue, the attemptedwin to supportof the 2. LaborPolicy in theCounty 101 CEU eTD Collection napirendi anyagai. A bérfejlesztés és a különböz és a A bérfejlesztés anyagai. napirendi policy. This policy promised the workers in state-owned enterprises that their of enterprises instate-owned that standard policy. workers the This policy promised appropriately standard-of-living of the social party,the the whichwascalled of policy indicatedmeasure main the This support ofthe regimeamong workingdirection class. the industrial working class.The increasein industrial wages wasintendedstrengthen to the attheexpensewhileandmanagers of prospered the unjust, the andthepeasantry therefore high, were too that income differences created reform economic the that criticism declared helyzetére és amunkaer behind”. people improves,itisnot right in workers that socialistindustrial lag enterprises the masses very much had keptenterprises pace with not general increasethe of standardof living:the “Therefore agree with the statementThe resolution of the Committee stated that the standard of livingthat of the workers in state when the standard of livingThe standard-of-living policy of the education of the working class in the county and the factory together. the discusses therefore chapter this of section last cases. The two the separate to practical the reports of Rába were integratedin factory,enablethe to focus life. oneveryday order amore detailed Since working-class into that of the county, it of inwhich party materials of the organization usesonly chapter, the a separate introduced was, of course, is notRába of policy labor alwaysThe county. whole the of class working industrial the of state the deal with that on reports relies chapter This sources. useof the of mainly because factory 223 GYML, X. 415/128/1, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/128/1, X. GYML, In November 1972 the Central Committee decided to increase wages inindustry. increase wages decidedto Committee Central the In November 1972 The discussion of labor policy of the county is separated from the study from the of separated study is the county policy of labor the of The discussion 223 The resolution shows that the party took into consideration the frequently Ę mozgásra (aKB november14-15.-i határozata alapján). 1973. június 28. Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę bérezési formák bevezetésének hatása a dolgozók a hatása bevezetésének formák bérezési Ę könyve, 102 CEU eTD Collection “the principle of equal forpay equal waswork not always effective”. that and workers women and men between a differential was there that noted also report The skilled workers. the pride of the low, whichinjured laborwere skilled, unskilled and behind, which created pace with top managers.the managersproduction wages The direct also lagged of the a problem of recruitment.Wages in lightindustry lagged behind significantly. workers’ The wage levelskeep not did Differentialsin farms,in in and Ftfarms. cooperative 2538 Ftthe 2593Ft 2271 transport state the between the skilled,wage in a month amounted to2146 Ft in industry,in 2419Ft constructionthe industry,semi- The average Ft). (18,625 household intellectual and of working-class average than the that in income: the distribution of Theannualincome of higher peasantry the was (19,060Ft) distribution of wages in the industry of the county. (See table 1). is important becauseit well andittherefore a of gives the documented general picture is increase of 1973 Thewage enterprise. the of may policy the been have Secrecy well year. thelists every managerpersonally checked allegedly, notdiscussed; also chief the organization of Rába MVG, too. The aspects of the distribution of the annual bonuses were materials party the wagesin the of the about littleinformation There is remarkably committee. executive of agenda the wereplacedthe on industrial lastwages time when the made an attempt todetermine the wages of workers across industry in Gy of county the executivecommittee the lastwhen occasion the was infact resolution the sector. expanding private living increased wealthier would which be inproportion social benefited strata, to from the 225 224 A bérfejlesztés és a különböz ésa Abérfejlesztés interviews. the from Information In Gy of execution measure. The to this significance understandable an The party attached Ę r-Sopron r-Sopron county a survey in conducted found1972 the followinginequalities Ę bérezési formák bevezetésének hatása, op. cit. 3-4. op. cit. hatása, bevezetésének formák bérezési 225 Ę r-Sopron. It was 103 224 CEU eTD Collection wage increased from 2,354 Ftto2,707 inmonth. a in The workers lightindustry working class. Thepayincrease was in the highest thus average heavy industry,the 15%: the of core industrial heavy the of support the win to aimed mainly party the that show for skilledand workers 75Ftfor thesemi-skilled and unskilled workers. locatedin Gy industry (the Cottonlight in 2% only and Foundry) Mill Iron Sopron the and MVG, andRába ArtificialMosonmagyaróvár, Leather Factory, andfunds, Richard Cloth Factory – all average. which was Ft on of an increase 137 it to amounted maleof counterparts their that lower than the highest were becausebut their (8%)wages rise same percentage received the female workers on average. 109Ft 225Ftandsemi-skilled andunskilledworkers The skilled workers the in heavy managers increases. industry received In state increase of amonthly production 269 Ft, the industry (5-6% could on a local regulate basis. in the they that of wages increase additional finance an to increase of forwages the allocated Tractorconstruction Factory andthe constructionunskilled 4%,the semi-skilled 6,5%, and workers unskilled workers workers of direct production3%. managers were given a minimum increaseThe of 8%, the semi-skilled and enterprises and Industrial workers budget. central increasedthe from should be local and councils received ministries by managers enterprises andadministered of the production direct the workers 20% of the central fund that was 228 227 226 Ibid., 10. Ibid., 7. Ibid., 1-2. Even increase levelthough wagesinindustry, pay the wassupposed to statistics In the county In and county the managers61,000 workers directproduction pay received It was decided thatfrom 1 March 1973 the wages of industrialthe and construction 227 In addition, the enterprises increased the wages of the workers from their own Ę r). In heavy industry it heavyindustry monthly increasemeant additional r). In Ft an pay of 102 226 228 104 CEU eTD Collection 3. melléklet, Munkások havi átlagkeresete. all underlined that the pay increase was very well received in the factories because because the in payincrease very the thefactories well received all was that underlined county) of the committee in executive the for hadarepresentative instance, (Rába MVG, enterprises large of the representatives the to from unionists trade the committee executive alsoimportant for the party preserveto the sympathy group.this of backbone of give heavy priority industry.to in The heavy workers industry considered be were to the the social the supportworking class should ofalso catch newthe it mechanism. economic Even badlythough was declaredthatthe of paid groups the up with party; the average, in realitygivenand to thethe working partythe class,continued payfor the purpose to increase of compensating them for the socialshows effects of that it was 232 231 county in 1973. ingives Ft heavy2,510 industry Ftindustry inand 2,075 light for anaveragewagein the report another figures werefully Onemaywhetherreliable: above doubtthe etc.). indeed know not how final nominal (overtime,fluctuated wages bonuses, shift piecework, work, men’s the lowerwages. than wages wereoriginally 249 Ft but the average increase was lower among women, 203 Ft because the women’s were threatened with wage cuts. wage with were threatened they efficiency, increase if they failed lostprofit:to makeupforthe managersshould the pay increases only from the funds of the enterprises: 141 Ft on average. It was decided that in a month. In the total ministerial state industry of instead Ft home 1,884 2,109Ft take they of could increase 11,9%: an receivedaverage 230 229 Jelentés Gy Jelentés Ibid., 15. A bérfejlesztés és a különböz ésa Abérfejlesztés Most state industry was ministerial industry; the council industry had local significance. There was no survey of the reception of the measure but the members of the it was isthat of pay increase the significance the inconsistencies, above the Despite Ę r-Sopron megye munkássága helyzetér munkássága megye r-Sopron 232 (See table (See 2). Ę bérezési formák bevezetésének hatása, op. cit., 12-13. op. cit., hatása, bevezetésének formák bérezési 231 Since the abovefigures indicated average wages, we do Ę l a KB 1974. márciusi állásfoglalása alapján, op. cit. op. alapján, állásfoglalása márciusi KB 1974. a l 229 the wagesincreasedby average 12,9%, 230 The white-collar workers received workers Thewhite-collar 105 CEU eTD Collection majority majority wereunskilled:women of workers in 35,8% of 1973, blue-collarin the workers were mainly employed in paidindustrial badly the branches like lightindustry. Second, the male for industry women its heavy dominance; counterparts First, reasons. two preserved in this industry). Thewagesof women workers lagged behind of that theirmale run construction enterprises. ministry- of (We exception the do with men not the of that know than howcategory in every manylower was women women workers were employed in aslaborincrease unskilled isheavy industry. It remarkable payincrease the that of In light industry gotworkers roughly twice asbig anincrease as theirsemi-skilledunskilled or counterparts. the semi-skilledmanagers received onlya bitmoremoney than skilled workers. In heavy industry skilled production direct the skilled workers; increase favored pay The trends. displayed basic and unskilled workers received nearly as big a pay 235 234 wage system”. in wages receive equal socialist the existcontinued andthe to party makefurther inshould efforts future “sowomen the that menandwomen between differential the consideration, a special received women’s wages even out speaker that standard oflivingthough class working the pointed The only. of the with was concerned government know why the to wanted farms cooperative the while2,538 Ft, industry inFt the payincrease.it heavy was 2,707 after farm monthly agriculture:in wage inastate than average 1973the paidbetter was state understood the necessity of measure”. necessity this the of understood buthappy, they werenot peasants andthe workers “the white-collar that stated committee to workevenWith better. respect tothe amember socialother groups, of executivethe thought workers for they that work and theirgood were rewarded that motivated they felt 233 Ibid. Ibid., A munkáshavi átlagbérek alakulása. A bérfejlesztés és a különböz Even though Even though couldthere be some in unreliability data, the statistical they still Ę bérezési formák bevezetésének hatása, op. cit., p. 3. 233 In the light of the statistics, heavy industry heavy statistics, the of light the In 235 234 The peasants of peasants The 106 CEU eTD Collection 240 (Budapest:Kossuth Kiadó, 1974); Edit Jávorka, 239 pay. equal the resented also he 238 time that at that adding story the confirmed her married later who brigadier theirqualification, of the because members bonuses of the brigadespecial stronglyreceived all who objected MVG, to of Rába giving the Unit same Vehicle the money in to woman. brigade a Themen’s a joined when she that recalled instance for electrician A woman did. they as job same the performed and qualification 4. május 1973. 17, 237 tapasztalatairól, végrehajtásának határozata hozott megjavítására napirendiTájékoztató anyagai. 18-19-i,a KB 1970. február an was important to know how people received this policy. this how peopleknow received to was important workers. wereblue-collar of party secretaries quarter wasmuch had working One week butthere (94%) aforty-four-hour overtime. workers the majority The overwhelming amountedaverage to1365Ft. of workers retired pension of half times but the average income in big families was still less than 800 Ftperperson. The 40%.According socialdecreased from benefits report 56% toincreasedby tothe anda one increased60% from whilemonth, who 43% to of lessearned thatthose than Ft 2000 35,000. Inthe plan period at30- wasestimated of commuters number inindustry.large The people the worked largetwenty-seven enterprises, which had more than five hundred andworkers, 40,000 together 130,000people with belonged tothe workingworkers retired class.Therewere of county the in statistical data:98,000workers wereemployed in industry,state and average.on femaletheir counterparts industries,lightit is a men reasonable earnedassumption that workers 25-30%more than and heavy between differential the takes if one but wages; women’s and men’s the about in data industry.noseparate werepreserved hierarchies There are traditional that gender county the were women but only of 16,5% them were skilled workers. 236 From the contemporary literature see, for instance, József Berényi, József instance, for see, literature contemporary the From Jelentés Gy Jelentés Thefourth five-yearplanHungary in (1971-75). According to the interviews, men objected to the equal pay even if their women colleagues had the same GYML, X. 415/128/1, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/128/1, X. GYML, Since the standard-of-living policy became the new social message of the party, it party, the of message social new the became policy standard-of-living the Since A report of A 1974 gavereport following the of picture conditionsthe of class working the Ę r-Sopron megye munkássága helyzetér munkássága megye r-Sopron 238 proportionthe whoearned2000-4000Ftof workers, in a Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 237 Életszínvonal amaimagyar társadalomban Ę l a KB 1974. márciusi állásfoglalása alapján, op. cit. op. alapján, állásfoglalása márciusi KB 1974. a l 239 Ę k politikai, gazdasági ésszociális helyzete 240 In 1976 there was a survey In1976there was Életszínvonal és szociálpolitika 236 These data show (Budapest: Ę könyve, 107 CEU eTD Collection információs jelentés. információs 241 Gondolat Kiadó, 1977). while in county the figurethe difference was2,4%. The be explained “top” can through Ft morein than 6000 0,7%earned sample top: the atthe werereverseproportions there fell in into category.Interestingly,4100-5000 Ftwhile9,3% county theof industry this earnedworkforce more in than 3000 Ft; samplethe 66%. In samplethe 16,5% earned of the county earned(46,8%) 3100-4000Ftin a month of only while one-quarter industrialthe workers fell respondents the of half the into almost county: in the wages average the than higher also this category. In the county only about 40% of the industrial finish primary school primary finish was clearly aboveof in1972,one-third theaverage: employeesthe Rába MVGnot of did years,for 11-15years 21% for and 6-10years.16% The qualification respondents the of because 35%had in worked samethe for enterprise more than years,twenty 18%for 16-20 factories the old the belonged guardof to The respondents average. than working-class the of county.)the manufacture machine 53% of inthe membership party tothe amounted workers category.“other” (Blue-collar 13%weresemi-skilled andbelonged the workers, workers to 49% and 3%wereunskilled university. 35% wereskilled finishedfinished or andsecondary school 13% college 35% had had athree-year vocational 26% training certificate, finishedschool, primary year-olds: year-olds: 51-60year-olds:18%, 31-41 21%had 41-50 32%, 12%. 35%, women. was year-olds: thefollowing: age-group the The distribution according 21-30 to men 84%of were material respondents theirthe evaluate and 16%were circumstances. In six enterprises county. the across inmachine-manufacturing enterprises of conducted members party the 1013 people (almost half of them, 471 from MVG) were asked to Kossuth Kiadó, 1970); Ágnes Losonczi, Ágnes 1970); Kiadó, Kossuth GYML,X. 415/118/27,MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai,1972. április havi The survey confirmed that workers in financial werein situation workers abetter this sector The survey that confirmed 241 while in the sample it was only 5%. The wages in the sample were Az életmód azid Ę ben, a tárgyakbanben, ésazértékekben (Budapest: 108 CEU eTD Collection sz. melléklet, 1976. április 27. napirendi anyagai.Azéletszínvonal-politikánk értelmezése a gépipari nagyüzemek párttagsága körében, 1. opinions of opinions of generalthe standard ofliving: 33%saidthat the payincrease exceeded the from it wages differed the of was bad.opinions real satisfactory that The andnot 1%said assatisfactory, consumer 31%as goods of the described supply thirds (68%) sample the of 64% describeditperiod, Two- as averageand14%said increase the that wasinsignificant. plan living the during standardof increasethe in that there wasasignificant thought increased, theincrease. opinions tothe differedextent of as of respondents the 21% had living of standard the that statement the with agreed (99%) everybody almost their living evaluation of subjective standardof the lesspositive. policy Although was 22% of householdsthe possessed player. arecord hada car. 26% bikeand a motor owned (24%) of respondents the One-quarter cleaner. fridge87% a 83% avacuum- and a washing machine,69%aspin-drier, 91% a radio, 93%had werewellrespondents equipped a with goods: durable consumer television, 94% the of households The conditions. living settled had majority overwhelming the that family members, and only 4% rentedaroom. Noone livedinworkers’ hostels. Thismeans flats, one-thirdlife-long councillived were ofstate or 11% (30%) tenants flats, athome as third of respondentsthe (31%)livedin houses,their own (24%)in one-quarter their own One- wereowner-occupiers. respondents the of majority because the good as described certainly be can conditions Living class. middle thesocialist of time characteristic the liverespondents material to in –oratleast atgood circumstances level, the was at which in twice asmuch as theaveragewages sample. the about only were wages these even that noted be should it though even wages; managerial 242 GYML, X. 415/7/14, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/7/14, X. GYML, The record of continuous employment and relatively high wages enabled the enabled wages high relatively and employment continuous of record The Even though Even though material the conditions of were“objectively” respondents the good, Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 242 Ę könyve, 109 CEU eTD Collection still considered to be peasants in the eyes of urban workers. commuters into the working class had been a problematic process, and the commuters were increase theirincome”. increase to land their farm also countryside the in live who workers the that reflects survey The peasants. land than the more possess workers the statistics the to According countryside. the real peasantsthe Rába MVG argued that the workers regarded the commuterswho also as peasants: “It islive not than that of the betterworking class. During thesurvey butdiscussion noted ofthose the materialthat according the representativewho workersearned said workingthe the peasants.The class, andthe more only that than 7% to theworkof statistics in thethe higher income had peasantry (68%)the a two-thirds than accordingto respondents incomethe of factory of the peasantry wasmanifestwas again in conflict survey: Worker-peasantpace of andthe payincrease. the 10% lowerlive in the6% said that they were paid badly. The majority peopleof (57%) were notcontent with the and wages weregood their that 19% thought county), in the wages averageindustrial the than in respondentswere higher describedthough theirwagesasaverage(even reality they only prices”. the and of products the they of evaluated technical standard disregardedthe improvement the They products. valuable more bought they and level higher a at needs their satisfy by the facts shown ofwas “it than economicnegatively more prices of increase the evaluated – members party policy.the They spoke of the – even population the that concluded Thesurvey statement. this agreedwith respondents increase of prices even ifaccording 39%pay to keep pacedidnot with increasing prices. In Rába MVG 44% of the they could and payincrease balancedthe higher prices the that in28%thought increases prices, 244 243 Ibid. cit. op. körében, párttagsága nagyüzemek a gépipari értelmezése Azéletszínvonal-politikánk 243 People were only “moderately” content with their wages: 75% of the 244 Worker-peasant conflict showed that the social integration of integration social the that showed conflict Worker-peasant 110 CEU eTD Collection their wages, cars and weekend plots”. living of with measure standard the workers the majority responsibility.of greater The tothe wageis thatthe isinvestigate disproportionate thereasonforWhat this? Oneshould Itworkers. is wonderno thattheworkers often study accepthigherrefuse or to positions. blue-collar the than earn less who managers production direct are factory there our “In system: wage non-differentiating the of effect harmful psychologically the to attention the RábaMVG called the of representative the committee executive of meeting the it more policy In the delivered. from people standard-of-living the expected what than itseems that picture: more contested showa however, answers, detailed The increased. standardof livinghad contradict thatthe assertions to membersparty wereunlikely policy, standard-of-living the was time the at party the of message social main the Since improvementof infrastructure, schools, communal the and,health service, roads, parks. count payincreasethe standard ofliving not to the only did accordingand they the evaluated people that stated survey The increase. pay the with discontented were while living99% saidmore standardof increased, the that half than respondents the of that contradiction interesting is an It men. the than families their of situation financial male they withthe more content women average(2100-2500Ft), were earnedlessthan the of majority the though even women: and men of satisfaction the between difference a wasalso There their with wages. more discontented andthey were therefore counterparts groups:two skilled expected workers higherhourly wages than their semi-skilled it that said wasworkers average.skilled the of majority the Thegood, as surveyfamilies their of explainedsituation material this difference through theskills, gender and the evaluation While semi-skilledwages.of the described the workers almost equal wages of the 245 Ibid. The survey revealed some interesting psychological relationships between the between relationships psychological interesting some revealed survey The 245 To achieve all these people were willing to work 111 CEU eTD Collection 248 prices. consumer the than less (100%=1970).In 1980the wagereal indexwasthan lower in1979and the nominalnet wage index increased increased by 17% between1970 1975 and (100%=1970) only while by 4% between1975 1980and them. deceived their politicalthe regime,against which live angerturned understandably worse, thegovernmentthought that living,“determined” to standardthey thestarted andwhen of true came economists reformer the of warning The did. still it when government much it socialistthe improve was countries did thecredibility not repeated; the of in creep to not would oil-crisis the that slogan 1970s the the In their situation. economic with morebecame discontented in when 1980s people becamethe manifest counter-effect showed thatstandard-of-living the policy bestwas notthe political theactual slogan; pay increase guaranteealone didnot desiredthe level of consumption. Even survey this because the more work, of livingwith higher standard a achieved majority the people of instagnated and in fell. wasconducted 1988theyactually Buteven 1976when survey the prices. increasing rapidly the because of a lower rate in greatestthe in 1970-75; secondhalf the 1970sthereal the of wages butat increased still was increase wage thereal statistics national to According wages. inreal increase effective desired level as to convince them of the superiority of socialism labor. of value evensocial when there was an theiraccording work. to people that paid thought were and only 19% answer) MVG 25%gavethis (in Rába 22%according of rarely achievement respondentsthe to the never the wages determined or their and wages: performed work the between little relation saw many people same time more: nearly half of the respondents (48%) said that they worked in their free time. At the 247 246 ’Jelenlegi gazdaságirányításunk kritikája’, op. cit. Ibid. Statisztikai1980 évkönyv The survey thatstandard-of-living the revealed satisfy policyfailed to the people to 246 (Budapest,Statisztikai Központi Hivatal), 355.Theindexof wages real This, in general, shows that manyhad doubtsaboutthe in This,shows thatpeople general, 247 Throughout the 1980s real wages 1980sreal the Throughout 248 : people 112 CEU eTD Collection értékelése –azemberi kapcsolatokra gyakorolt hatásuk, 1979.szeptember 21. demonstrate that workers were fully integrated into the socialist middleclass. thesocialist into fully integrated were workers that demonstrate meant to movies) was art ballet, concerts, (theatre, “high culture” of popularization level the The increasingknowledge. general of of peoplethereby the entertainment increasinglevel for cultivated byproviding second, the general the and education, of ways:inshape by sought consciousness first, people. to people’s Theproject two the working class as well as to render the cause of socialism attractiveEducating thepublic in the eyes of the Arbeiterkulturinder DDR gesellschaftlich hegemonial sein?’ 249 Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz schoolhigh certificate. GYML, X. 415/200/3, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. 250 965-976. experience. important more were values intellectual message that carried propagandistic the project same time the than material ones, which was, unfortunately, contradicted by the social should not generalize but we always have to consider the concrete situation: if is situation: a worker concrete the consider we alwayshavebutgeneralize to not should ten We train thousand university leadinggraduates? we needto position.why do Then such from opinions some workplaces andenterprises that their will workers fill every have I in heard leadership. significance are excesses Butthere this. the to great attaches thing is trainingthe of working-classThe managers. resolution Central the of Committee “The in other way: clumsy formulated a rather secretary thecounty which competence, working-class managers. totrain inin order offered fact were courses prospects; evening employment person’ For ananalysis of the role of working-class culture under socialism see Dietrich Mühlberg, ‘Konnte Several interview partners reported about similar careers. Even the appointment of foremen required a required foremen of appointment the Even careers. similar about reported partners interview Several The revitalization of the educational project in the 1970s was supposed to benefitin 1970swassupposedto The project revitalization the educational the of Increased educational performance on an individual level, of course, enhanced a enhanced course, level, individual of onan performance Increased educational Ę könyve, A közvetlentermelésirányítók helyzete, politikai-szakmai felkészültségük 250 Education was important for ensuring their professional their ensuring for important was Education Utopie kreativ , Heft 145(November2002), 249 At the 113 CEU eTD Collection on the social inequality of Hungarianthe school system see also: Katalin Dogossy, tudás társadalmi meghatározottsága admission, were mainly attendeduniversity by the childrenguaranteed orless of more the intelligentsiawhich schools, grammar (See: elite The id., technologists. trained mainly they highschool a certificate, offer not which did was schools the pre-requisitetraining forschools: university secondary of types admission.the Comprehensive between differences schools important did were but There 255 faculties at university. at faculties proportion students from of familiesworking-class was verylow inmedicallanguage and 80% of the trainees came from working-class families. working-class from came trainees the of 80% ifjúmunkások társadalmi beilleszkedésér 254 year.in a of county the training tothe 8,500traineesschools were admitted were blue-collar workers). (90% adults school for a attended primary 19735,200people primary school).1968 and Between 11,000 skilled did workers not have basic education compulsory (the classeseight of nearly but further other education, or hadsecondary even school or primary finished workers In1974,37,000skilled strongly education,promoted. project level the which of universities in individual mobility did, however, decline. party. With increasingthe number of young university importancethe graduates of evening loyalty: selection institutions depended education high on to of recommendation the of the goal”. political noble maydiscreditthis we managersonly statistically, increase working-class numberof the backgo tothe shop floor and will the workers him tease make and fun him.of If we to Hehas situation. very him ina unpleasant burden,bearput wewill the manager cannot suitable for the job, we will choose him. Butif we make awrong choice and the new 253 prerequisite. evening university the course 1960s or1970s. Somein actually party ofthem said that wasmembership a 252 cit. 25-26, 1974. március 29. 251 The social inequality in the Hungarian educational system was discussed by the sociologist Zsuzsa Ferge. Zsuzsa sociologist by the discussed was system educational Hungarian the in inequality social The On the perspectives of working-class youth see: Dénes Maros, ‘Fiatalok a munkáspályán. Gondolatok az Gondolatok amunkáspályán. ‘Fiatalok Maros, Dénes see: youth working-class of perspectives the On Jelentés Gy Jelentés an finished they after followed they that career managerial a of reported partners interview retired Many op. feladatai, továbbfejlesztés és a érvényesülése vezetés egyszemélyi az helyzete, demokrácia üzemi Az In the light of statistics there was enough room for improvement also at the lower Ę r-Sopron megye munkássága helyzetér munkássága megye r-Sopron 251 255 253 Adult education was indeed supposed to strengthen supposedto Adult indeed political education was The enterprises supported the education of their employees in This working class was mainly of working-class origin itself; origin working-class of mainly was class working This , Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1976.). For amore ethnographic approach Ę l’, Társadalmi Szemle Ę l a KB 1974. márciusi állásfoglalása alapján, op. cit. op. alapján, állásfoglalása márciusi KB 1974. a l , 31, 3 no. (1976), 51-58. 252 254 The report noted that the Az iskolarendszer és aziskolai és iskolarendszer Az Baj van a gyerekkel 114 CEU eTD Collection around 40-45% was reported to rarely read. The proportion of theatre audiences theatre containing rarely of proportion to read. The 40-45%wasreported around while 25% readbooks of that population regularly the itwasestimated negative picture: expectations. Thefollowing that they listedsupport data theabove namelydoesnot of expansion democracy”. enterprise further for the is essential development their population; the of competence linguistic critical “We comments: striking experienced economic, in and deficiencies pedagogic the initiatives in cultural the mechanic administration often and “over-formality the criticized however, of the brigades”.socialistinbrigades000 brigade around The the with 32, county, members. report, The generalmovement basis providedfor anorganizational education. workers’ were2585 There culturalbrigade stated, thesocialist report the enterprises, the Within education”. workers’ of level development comprehensive the and life, community and collective of workers’ the the population institutions, of could which strengthening offer foradequately local the abasis the cultural also receivedalways not support “Thedo enterprises cause of the culture: neglected social organizations many havemind. critically cultivatingtimetheir spent that thatthey couldremarked It 24% of the workers in the machinehave industry did workforce the not 25% of noted education. basic report that The county commuted, and unskilledthe (33,000people) infinish workers thenot county school. did Inthe primary traveling consumed of and two-thirds 40% was estimated around of semi-skilledthat the workers It education. much of the free occupations. intellectual more traditional to than rather intelligentsia, the technical access to gaining hadchance of more therefore children Working-class economics and engineering. Working-Class Kids GetWorking Class Jobs (Budapest:Kossuth Kiadó, 1987). argumentThe of bookthe issimilarto that of The intellectual critics, however, contradicted themselves or they had too high had too themselves orthey contradicted however, The intellectual critics, of thestate public gloomy of from likewisepicture painted a 1974 Another report by WillisPaul (Aldershot: Ashgate, 1977). Learning to Labor: How 115 CEU eTD Collection információs jelentés. információs 258 257 napirendi anyagai. Közm nagyüzem pártbizottságának titkárával’, based movement. In 1973, countyhadthe 90,315TV-subscribers. members. 6000 of themnationally”. In1972therewere in artistic 434amateur groups county,the 8572 with were below thirty,itwas noticed basis but on a narrow “wasdeveloped film-makers of amateur movement which shows thatbe desired”.The to much squaresleft public of the “the improved, decoration fine arts it was primarily county - includinga Gy youth- major obstacle to popularizing classical music is that there are not enough town halls in our One experience. from buta lackof they suffer organizing concerts started “Municipalities music.classical to listened regularly was workers higher. 10%of workers blue-collar 256 information inon education the Gy Rába-employees the of who did not have elementary education. That 25% of the employees without basic without employees the of 25% That education. elementary have not did who young workers admit unskilled to enterprise continued the improved, generations clearly in belowand the age-group and thirty 6,5% twenty.youngerEven though education the of in33,2% between age-group the inthirty 5,3% fifty,and between age-group the twenty half of the than More employeesgenerations. older the to belonged education basic have not did who employees who were over fifty, majority the of The overwhelming 3). table (See of education. improvement general did not finish primary (24,7%). The educational statistics of employeesthe age-group showedaccording to the school; this ratio of workforce total the one-fourth to decreased fiveyears this percentage following was education. Even the report noted noted “this high”. education. that numberwasstrikingly report the Even out of 17,000employeesthe did of (32,3%) MVG,the not have 5,500 elementary GYML,X. 415/118/27,MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai,1972. április havi See, for instance, József Füleki, ‘Mérlegen a közm a ‘Mérlegen Füleki, József instance, for See, GYML, X. 415/134/1, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/134/1, X. GYML, Thanks to the massively propagated cultural cultural massively Thanks the propagated program to Ħ Ę vel r -that are suitable for concerts”. The report noted that even though Ę désünk helyzete, 1974. július 10. Társadalmi Szemle Társadalmi Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ħ vel , 31, 7 (1976),no. 86-93. Ę dési határozat végrehajtása. Beszélgetés három Beszélgetés végrehajtása. határozat dési Ę 257 r. In 1972 it was reported itr. In that 1972 was reported , there remains considerable , there 256 258 Over the Over Ę könyve, 116 CEU eTD Collection MagyarVagon-és Gépgyárban, op. cit., 1. táblázat, Fizikai dolgozók iskolai végzettsége. 262 261 260 szerinti megoszlása korcsoportonként,1977. július 6.végzettség iskolai dolgozójának összes MVG Melléklet, Gépgyárban, Vagon-és Magyar a feladatairól were only fifteen college graduates (all of (all in were only below graduates them fifteen college of age-group thirty).the amongstby there factthis skilled the that issupported blue-collarworkers workers: the the meant for university promotion automatically acquisition degreealmost the or a college of workers. from older expect this cannot thatone itwas noted certificate, school high a have to had foremen though even managers: of appointment the in considered also was younger generations and older the between difference The educational below age-group thirty finished secondary school who in overthan thirty. the age-group workers without basic education were over thirty and there were many more workers in the the majority of overwhelming the generational pattern: by a similar was characterized in6,6% between age-group the twenty and thirty. it similar fiftyover reflected was 2,7%in trends: age-group and the university graduates twenty finishedand thirty secondary during work.Theschool development of ratiothe of twenty itwas still only which18,5%, thatmanysuggests people in between age-group the below between in age-group the thirty. thetwenty age-group In doubled and (27,7%) thissecondary ratio overfifty finishedschool, in14% While theage-group below twenty. andfifty, between in 60,4% age-group the twenty and thirty inand 75%age-group the over fifty finished school; primary ratiothis was 46,3% in between age-group the thirty of ineducation 27,5% employees bestill the MVGcould ahigh percentage. considered jegyz 259 table 4). training school trainingin enterpriseandthe school the trainees wereemployed during time. their training Jelentés a munkásm A közvetlen termelésirányítók helyzete, politikai-szakmai felkészültségük értékelése, op. cit., 2. Ibid. GYML,415/195/3, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai, Pártbizottsági ülés Ę könyve, Jelentés amunkásm Jelentés könyve, The MVG directly supported the education of young people. It supported itssupported own young It of education people. supportedthe The MVG directly Ħ vel Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér Ħ vel Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér tapasztalatairól, dés 259 Ę l és szerepér The blue-collareducation workers of Ę Ę l és szerepér l l, fejlesztésének feladatairól a 261 At the same time same the At Ę l, fejlesztésének l, 262 (See 117 260 CEU eTD Collection 267 266 adatai 1972-1976. 265 kihasználásának helyzetér napirendi anyagai. A Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyárvezérigazgatójának jelentése a termel increase of increase 10%. apay received certificate, worker skilled the whoreceived and those theenterprise, within basic too: was incentives, vocational education offeredfinancial of a pre-requisite training workers’ primary school because people refused to go back to school. village butonly schools of them declaringstart they two that answered could the not and local the contacted organization party The of commuters. problem the secondwas the generations) older the to belonged education basic without people of majority the (and problems inthis firstrespect: the was itconvince that was difficult to old people to study dovocationalschool or party training. listed The mainorganization factory the of two finish primary basic wereencouraged to education,number they employees without of received supportin period.the This was notlimitedhigh to education; given high the spent 689,700 Ft on socialin it scholarships, 1976 spentmore than Ft. 1,751,000 double, in 1972the MVG in than 1972.While received hundredone more who support trainees forits were trainingin1976 andeducation: support increased enterprise evidently there This university scholarship of type to and wasalso offered college students. they had tocommitthemselves toworkingin enterprisethe for an equal period of time. they financial aregularduringreceived theirsupport vocational three-year training and trainees: the to offered enterprise the that scholarships social bytheso-called motivated 75% of the young skilled workersBetween 1976 in1972 and 350children admitted year school the a onaverage and around chose to stay with the enterprise. The choice was also 264 263 Ibid. Jelentés a munkásm Jelentés a munkásm Jelentés GYML, X. 415/122/6, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/122/6, X. GYML, A Ibid., szakmunkásképzés adatai 1972-1976. Adult education, which was specifically targeted at the working class, likewise working class, atthe targeted specifically was Adult which education, 267 Ħ vel Ħ The attendance of secondary school and the university degree university the and school secondary of Theattendance vel Ę l, 16, 1972.l, július 18. Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér tapasztalatairól, dés Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę l és szerepér Ę l és szerepér l és Ę l, op. cit. 5, 1977. július 6. Ę l , op. cit., Aszakmunkásképzés 266 The enterprise The Ę kapacitás 264 Ę könyve, The 118 265 263 CEU eTD Collection cit., 12. 271 op. cit. 3.) where one speakersaid that the retirements will improve the ratio. cited party meeting of 6 July 1977 (Jelentés a munkásm a (Jelentés 1977 of 6July meeting party cited 270 pártértekezlet után, 12, 1979. december11. jegyz 269 workers obtained further qualifications and 334 semi-skilled workers receivedtheskilled workers 334semi-skilled and furtherobtained qualifications workers 1975 and1979 1,961employeesparticipated intechnical training 410skilled programs, were women. below24,2% thirty were and 25,2%ofthe workforce workers. increased. In 1979, 23%of employeesthe white-collar were andblue-collar 77%were degree, in wasnearlydoubleat6,1%.1979 this The percentage ofhighly workers qualified had of auniversity employees the whilein19753,4% collegeuniversity graduates: or improvement school;secondary Themost in197923,6%. significant of wasintheratio primary primary inschool; 1979 18,3%. fell this to finish didnot 24%of workforce the improve 1970s.(Seetable 5).In 1975 the throughout statistics ofboth, thesupport improving continued enterprisethe or or to education and culture among the employees. the among culture and education promote inMVG to of wasformed party committee organization educational the 1976an enhance In participation. December means the to administrative werealso there men and 162women attended university collegeor courses. school finished school,finishedmen and secondary and 1524 1010 741 women primary in inadult1976 3,999peoplemen MVG:education participated 387 and 175women education be was satisfactory, Between with statistical which supported can 1972 and data. in adult employees the of interest the report the to According motivation. individual the strengthen to aimed which members, the of education increasing the to themselves brigades withleave. Manysocialistcommitted study supported programs paid was 268 Aközm This improvement could have also been explained with the retirement of the older generations. See the generations. older of the retirement the with explained been also have could improvement This GYML,415/200/3, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai, Pártbizottsági ülés Ibid., Ę könyve, Aközm While much had been done to mobilize the collective for the educational project, educational the for mobilize collective the to hadbeen done While much Melléklet, Esti, levelez Ħ vel Ę dés helyzete. Az MVG végrehajtó bizottságának jelentése az 1975-ös pártértekezlet után pártértekezlet 1975-ös az jelentése bizottságának végrehajtó MVG Az helyzete. dés Ħ vel Ę dés helyzete. AzMVG végrehajtó bizottságának jelentése 1975-ösaz Ę oktatásban résztvev 269 Whether it can be explained through generally the it beexplainedthrough Whether can Ę k 1972-1976. 270 Ħ In 1975 18% of In197518%of employees finished the vel Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér tapasztalatairól, dés 268 Ę l és szerepér l 271 Between 119 op. Ę l , CEU eTD Collection were adjusted to the they schedule because commuters engagedthe more successfully wereheldin that enterprise the of their trains local the The they had in training courses enterprise than feweropportunities the residents. and buses. 50% of theprimary school. The low ratio of participantsthe commuters among the university graduates shows that in these secondary school and 12Gy from local workers’ the university.and (70%) 57 24commuters (30%)finishedresidents work. In the sameyear 26 urban workers (90%) and 3commuters (10%) obtained a degree 25 Gy though inthough 39% of Gy employees the the end of the afternoon shift”. afternoon the endthe of arounddepart 5pm and if miss commuters the buses their and waittrains, they have to for school or secondary schoolThe reasonwith the scheduleis thatis lowinof adulteducation. rather commuters the “Theratio timetables: public transport of theypublic cannottransport. education than Gy reconcile Their trains theandin adult participate to less likely were The commuters commuters. the of education was the busesafternoon classesfirst The could hardly reduce. education inequality adult that educational specific typesof in the workers’ primary graduation. working themselves MVGafter in to inRába enterprise committed a yearwho organized with 360 participants. studentsreceived 30-40university scholarships from the were eleven courses of production development framework Within the certificate. worker jegyz 273 272 GYML,X. 415/204/4/3, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai,Pártbizottsági ülés Ibid., 13. Ę könyve, A vidékr A könyve, Ę Despite the improving statistics, even the reports admitted that there were that were there two reportsadmitted the improving even the Despite statistics, r residents (90%) and only 3 commuters (10%) obtained a university obtainedauniversity degree during (10%) and 3commuters (90%) only r residents 272 Ę r residents because they had less free time and they had free time because they they less on and the r residents depended Ę l bejáró dolgozóink helyzete, 4, 1980. szeptember 12. szeptember 1980. 4, helyzete, dolgozóink bejáró l Ę r residents (70%)and 5commuters (30%)finished workers’ 273 This inequality was also reflected in the statistics. Even Ę r were commuters, in the academic year of inyear were commuters, of 1978/79 academicthe r 120 CEU eTD Collection renders any intellectual activity impossible after work in factory”. work the after impossible activity intellectual renders any Husbandry, andfarming gardening much consume of their onaregular basis, time which is development. their to aseriousactivity professional obstacle of commuters the agricultural “The mind: their than rather plots their in cultivating interested allegedly were in persisted MVG. Commuters organization of party the conflict, worker-peasantthe werecommuters. courses 276 275 274 1979, 39 commuters (55%)and32Gy 1979, 39commuters 56 commuters (59,6%)and 38local working started residents (40,4%) in MVG, in while skilled local wasanequal there andin workers of residents proportion commuters: 1978, villages but they villages but home they finished they after returned training. The report, however, noted, that in reality a much higher number of trainees came from the highest education of women had university menandcollege the of or a 8,1% semi-skilled the workers degree while workers was secondary indemonstrated their in participation higher education:school. 8,5%of skilledthe men workers The educational menskilled men The between workers. educational inequality and women couldbe clearly statistics of finishedwomen secondary this workers proportion the while school was 16% among the proportion of women, who had a high skilled of Within workers group university the degree. or had acollege school 8,2% schooland certificate, was higher: 25,6% didnotworkers basic finish school, finishedhad primary ofeducation, 59% 11,8% secondary skilled male of 29% sametime, the At school. secondary finished 6% and education, elementary men. finish of that didnot In 1977, 38%of women workers 56%hadonly school, primary lower than wasin general workers of women education the that show MVG of statistics Ibid. Ibid., 5. Ibid. The second specific problem was that of gender inequality. educational The thatof gender was The secondspecific problem 274 A certain bias against the commuters, which was reflected in reflected was which commuters, the against bias Acertain Ę r residents (45%) took upworkin theenterprise. (45%)took r residents 276 275 Among the young the Among 121 CEU eTD Collection jegyz 280 279 278 women). were becausestudents half adult the level of better high ratioat the school was (the university women, orbetween 16% studied in college and 1976 only work during 1972 level: of one-quarter were even university certain employees inequalitythe atthe though hadhad education basic and 28% ahighschool certificate. finishdid school,not not men primary 52,1% whileschool of did the certificate 24,2%, finishwomen hadnot basic high 52,1% primary haddid school, education, 28% and a the of 26% women. of statistics the improved workers white-collar becausethe categories weremore level,enterprise in educational statistics balanced the lower educational the amongthis was more university than (4,6%) ratiocollegemen.degree, or Atthe double the total the workforce of MVG reflected sameinequality:the while 1,9%of womenthe had a 277 in enterprise. the chances lowermeant career also university or finished college who of women lower ratio brigades. museums,films, visiting these towards cultural ranking the etc.); offerings counted of the artistic concerts, (attendingin and theatre, a higher degree participating cultural events undertakings. and initiatives cultural the of basis main the as regarded were brigades socialist the enterprise) in state-owned other any InRába(like facts. basic some which summarized employees, apart hardly todescribelife the cultural used of Sincenosurveysurvived factory. the among the from the later memoirs, one can only rely on a rather general report, GYML,X. 415/204/4/2, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai,Pártbizottsági ülés Ibid., 2. Ibid. Jelentés a munkásm Ę könyve, A szocialista munkaverseny és a brigádmunka fejlesztésének feladatai vállalatunknál, 1980. vállalatunknál, feladatai fejlesztésének brigádmunka a és munkaverseny szocialista A könyve, While statistics can tell us something of improvementthe of education, they can be 278 280 Since higher management was recruited from the university graduates, the from managementwas graduates, higherrecruited Since university the Whether it was motivated by genuine interest or the administrative measures, administrative the or interest bygenuine itwas motivated Whether 279 Themembers brigade of the themselves studying, committed to obtaining Ħ vel Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér Ę l és szerepér 277 Ę l, op. cit. Adult maintainededucation a 122 CEU eTD Collection 286 285 cit., 14. 284 283 soon became very popular in the town and also won international recognition. international 282 won also and town the in popular very became soon 22 members. for wasformed Knowledge) Propagation in of the enterpriseAssociation General with the (TudományosOn March 1977aTIT-group Ismeretterjeszt1 year.in insectionsa thelectures eighty attended many employees.2600-2800participants not surprisingly, thetechnical attracted lectures; scientific subjects and economic primarily reception. to havehad apositive werealsoreported concerts The workers’ thesegroups. of saw theprograms people 30,000 more of framework In banda brass and enterprise:the achoir,1976, than adance group. among employees. theatre the popularize were attended by were attended in 600employees a year. around enterprise established regular contacts with the artists of Kisfaludy Kisfaludy theatre of with artists the contacts regular established enterprise soldin in enterprisethe while increased1977 this to585. The report noted that the were tickets 435 season increased: in1976, of theatre visitors regular the of numberthe 281 interviews. augusztus 29. The cultural activity of the socialist brigades also received a positive evaluationin the average. inayear on ten books borrowed members The library. the attended regularly them of majority the and members library union had volumes. of 66,000 Nearly Rába-employeesthe 40% werelibrary volumes, trade while nearly the hadof library 50,000 astock (See table technical 6).The inAdy Community whichEndre House, varioushosted the clubs, artistic and groups Jelentés a munkásm Ibid. Aközm Ibid., 3-4. Jelentés a munkásm The new building of theatre wasthe inaugurated 1978.in In1979 Gythe The most successful form of propagating general form popular werethe The mostknowledge general successful of propagating Ħ vel Ę 284 dés helyzete. Az MVG végrehajtó bizottságának jelentése az 1975-ös pártértekezlet után pártértekezlet 1975-ös az jelentése bizottságának végrehajtó MVG Az helyzete. dés The enterprise had a well-equipped technical and a trade union library. union a trade technical and hadawell-equipped Theenterprise Ħ Ħ vel vel Ę Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér 283 285 The libraries organized writer-reader meetings, which meetings, writer-reader organized Thelibraries 282 Threeartistic functioned within groups the Ę Ę l és szerepér l és szerepér 286 The larger cultural events took place took Thelargerevents cultural Ę Ę l, op. cit. 3. l, op. cit. 4. Ę Ę r Ballet wasr founded,which Társulat= Scientific 281 , which helped 123 op. CEU eTD Collection 288 cit., 16. system. of the functioning of the become part has (self)-deception reveals that who failed to attend community members the out that whiledismissingCommunist Many pointed propaganda. the events were alsoEven whohadthose, positive experiences of brigade life, stressed theloss of the “recorded” goal. political its missed it that however, seems, it people; the of in consciousness political the diary of the brigade,increase to the sought education admittedly Workers’ aconstraint. was regardedas which tasks cultural of the fulfillment many, the in of eyes effect: the have opposite tothe likely were measures administrative party, the intention the of thegood Despite cultural events. home high familiesgo attend happy with time ratherthan people spend their and were to recognized many day after that one of report even a contemporary hardwork, undertaking; however,hadbe fulfilled. that to onemore task not and asreal entertainment regarded admitted brigadethe each didindeed andsupport commonthe other cultural undertaking was thatmembers of the where community-building, concerning experiences of positive reported not everybody was of organization cultural programs”. enthusiastic The noted hobby report groups. that enterprisethe anew requested for building the about the common cultural 287 The role of socialist brigades in community-building is discussed in aseparate chapter. Aközm In the light of the later memoirs the picture is interviewers mixed. Many more memoirs picture of In thelightthe later the Ħ vel Ę dés helyzete. Az MVG végrehajtó bizottságának jelentése az 1975-ös pártértekezlet után pártértekezlet 1975-ös az jelentése bizottságának végrehajtó MVG Az helyzete. dés 287 288 It was, 124 op. CEU eTD Collection határozatáról amin napirendi anyagai.A MagyarVagon-és Gépgyárvezérigazgatójának beszámolójaKB a 1974. december5.-i (1977), 129-150; László Iványi,’A vállalati profitb 291 munkaer János Tímár, ’Foglalkoztatáspolitikánkról és munkaer és ’Foglalkoztatáspolitikánkról Tímár, János ’Teljesítménykövetelmények és munkaid szocialista társadalom építésének id (1976),no. 3 67-76; Éva Szeben, ’Amunka szerintielosztás érvényesítésének néhány problémája afejlett (1980), 81-89;Tamás Sárközy,’Felel és JogiAlbert Könyvkiadó, Rácz, 1982); ’Munka szerinti elosztás, ösztönzés’, (1979), 1462-1473;György Pogány, Veress, ’Szükségszer átcsoportosítás tervszer átcsoportosítás és a munkapiac sajátosságainak összefüggései’, munkakövetelmények I-II’, munkaer Szikra Falusné, gazdálkodás és a bérgazdálkodás id 290 289 Economic incentives workers from the textile factories in Gy in factories textile the from workers committee: executive in the also were discussed enterprise the the laborproblems of particularly period workforce Inthis in early 1970s. the gave notice decreased from 19,2%. from 29% to notice decreased gave of between percentage who the employees asagood result1969 and1971 regarded that singleditwas labor:Another was problem thehigh fluctuation of report out the that a chronic shortage of labor in some professions such as metal cutting and at the smelters. was there report of that 1972 complained aproduction Despite efforts, these new workers. which towns, likehad industry, little SárvárandKapuvár, whereitwas recruit easierto GYML, X. 415/3/23, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/3/23, X. GYML, The enterprise even had a delegate in the executive committee of the county. the of committee executive inthe delegate a had even enterprise The For contemporary debates on labor shortage under socialism see e.g.: István Buda, ‘A munkaer ‘A Buda, István e.g.: see socialism under shortage labor on debates contemporary For Ę Ę With the growth of the production of Rába there was a massive increase of of the increase wasamassive of Rába there of production the growth With the helyzetre’, mozgásról Munkabér, ösztönzés, elosztás Ę (Budapest: Kossuth Könyvkiadó, 1973);Csaba Makó,’Technika – munkásigények – ség, atakarékosságés amunkaer Munkaügyi Szemle Ħ -e a munkaer 3. LaborPolicy in theFactory Ħ en, szervezetten’, en, Ergonómia Ę Ę Ę Munkaer szer hiány hiány a szocialista gazdaságban?’ sség a vállalati vezetésértsség avállalati és gazdálkodásért’, Ę , 12, no. 3-4.(1979), 190-197; Ferenc Munkácsy, ’Amunkaer , 23, no. 4 (1979), 1-6. szakábanMagyarországon’ (Manuscript, 1979); János Tillmann, Ę Ħ Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron feladatai’, MunkaügyiSzemle alap-kihasználás’ Ę (Budapest: KossuthKönyvkiadó, Károly 1969); Losonczi, -gazdálkodás ésmunkaer Ę Munkaügyi Szemle r, and it also opened new plants in other, smaller in other, plants new opened also it and r, Ę Ę -helyzetr Társadalmi Szemle -gazdálkodásunkról’, Ę vítésre ésvítésre az önellátásra való törekvés hatása a 291 Shift work was likewise problematic likewise was work Shift MunkaügyiSzemle , 23, no.3(1979),1-5;SándorOroszi–József, Ę l, 16, 1975.július 22. , 20,, no. 6(1976),1-5;.id.,’Munkaer 289 Ę Közgazdasági Szemle , 32,, 5 (1977), no. 38-48; Katalin -politika Rába enticed many women Közgazdasági Szemle Társadalmi Szemle , 21, no. 3 (1977): 14-18;3 (1977): 21, no. , (Budapest:Közgazdasági Társadalmi Szemle Társadalmi , 26, no. 12 , 24, no. 2 , 35. no. 1 Ę könyve, Ę hiány , 31, , 125 290 Ę Ę A - - CEU eTD Collection napirendi anyagai. Avállalatok üzemi és munkaszervezésének korszer definitely influences the willingness of the workers to work in different shifts”. is because solved centrally income farming,a high today from there which private motivateand people.shiftsafternoon to a20-25%bonusfor be nightThis should the bonus from their own funds. In our view it would be justified to pay a 10% bonus for the give shift a cannot enterprises refusal.in The the a role play low differentials the that it bestated can but etc. times, long traveling places, kindergarten lack nursery or care, of workfrequently in shifts two-three refuse to referring toobjective such problems as child pay of bonuses for different shifts in order to fully exploitmachine capacity: “Employees the proposed report the that so agriculture on rely to continued many employees because 293 292 cit., 1978 and that of Lajos Horányi in Horányi op. cit., 1976. feladatairól,11-14 1972. március 24.See also Bossányi’sKatalin interview the withmanager: Bossányi,op. even worsen the present situation”. even present the worsen discipline. If keepdiscipline, thewe can’t best organizational be will concepts useless or labor is thing other The issue. sensitive persistent, this solve to be keen would manager and organization every party unit, 1800, economic to people of 2000 wages the could pay If labor. we get rid to of is material we unnecessary much.interest no cannotdo that There self-criticism say with have to We problem. is old It an labor. is surplus there agree that inreward should butpeople bemanifestnot in I a typed it speech should get pocket. their is organization.enterprise The first tomakein interested the higher people achievement: less this is where we stand today… In my view there are two basic conditions of a modern or in 1945.More been established had system, which the present change fundamentally to find not a solution We could nationally. marks time organization enterprise the “Inmyview committee: in executive the ameeting this also of opinion who represented Ibid., 19. GYML, X. 415/121/1, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/121/1, X. GYML, The use of economic incentives was strongly supported by the manager of Rába, 293 Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ħ sítésére indított mozgalom 292 Ę könyve, 126 CEU eTD Collection 297 much premiums. 296 295 vállalatainál, 1971, augusztus 3. napirendi anyagai. A munkaer unskilled brigades left enterprises”. brigades unskilled the complete therefore and wages highest the received they psychology: bad a with connected is unskilled 40% are workers thefactthat that here know comrades also The development. professional andthe satisfiedwith wages the not are they leave because employees phenomena in in lowshortage skilled professions wagedifferentials: through out the “Inegative the point the Wagon labor of problem the Heexplained committee. in theexecutive policies wage based Factory that are related to the psychology of labor. Many 294 premium premium could amount toasubstantial income extra labor and make a proposal to the higher bodies”. people in We interested workinga goodestimate of well. should supply givethe skilled of make We should labor. of skilled is shortage a there particularly where too, workplaces, smaller staff and there is nofluctuation. Weshould consider it and this introduce in other had no labor sincethe wagevolumeinstance, problem.had in management been introduced foundry,the wehave The For enterprises,in too. other managementvolume introduce wage the reasonable to workers areit unionswould differentials: that “Onbehalf be werecommend of trade the of greater paid good money, they produce more with a unions (Szakszervezetek Gy unions (Szakszervezetek strengthen labor disciplinestrengthen because heintroduced who practicethe of workers stopping premiums. annual of list the revised Information from the interviews. the from Information too received managers the that thought workers many reports information ground-cell the to According Ibid. 19. GYML, X. 415/117/7, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/117/7, X. GYML, The delegate of the Wagon Factory supported Horváth’s view of performance- viewof Horváth’s supported Factory of Wagon The the delegate The wherever manager puthisideasintochief practice hecould. Theannual Ę -gazdálkodás helyzete ésels az Ę r-Sopron Megyei Tanácsa) also spoke of the positive effects of positive the spoke also MegyeiTanácsa) r-Sopron Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 297 294 The regulation of premiums was also used to The chairman of the county council of the trade 295 296 Ę félév f ; allegedly, personally Horváth Ę tapasztalatai a megye ipari Ę könyve, 127 CEU eTD Collection 301 300 célkit és szervezetfejlesztési termelésfejlesztési napirendi anyagai.ARába MagyarVagon-és Gépgyár értékesítési,termékszerkezeti, korszer quality. improved the work whoof otherwisethose didnotunderstand significance the of also thethat final wagecuts defended with wage,whichHorváth 30% of argument the the wentmore for off-sick than five days ayear,getting a premium. could influence Quality 299 op. cit., 3. 298 will want to go there”. to will want much about them. We have toaccept that if a worker gets more money somewhere else, he do andwecannot too, side, onour areproblems there should that consider committee accept andpiecework this,is quality! Ifsomeone there turnover. The executive cannot skilled by for workers But 17,2%. moneythis wedemandWe need work. threeshifts, high“In he increase of 1981 wewill thewages regardedasaprerequisite of performance: responsibility. withrefusedworkers tobepromoted notundertake itpay argumentthe that does more to when cases even were there Allegedly, period. in the criticized much been has wages low Wagon Factory 99% of the foremen were recruited from blue-collarforemen from Wagon wereworkers. Factory 99% of the the recruited the In shop-floor. the from recruited was management lower the of majority overwhelming Factory Factory between 1974 and1977,72foremen removed were from their because posts of a1979report, factory. duringthe Accordinga “purge” to in personnel Wagon of the of interest the to connected was theforemen increase of in pay the of party the The interest responsibility. to proportionate not was pay the that argument important an was it therefore with organizationthe leadingand of party the cells. Thisinvolved and more work, entrusted usually were they because important also was foremen the of reliability political A közvetlen termelésirányítókcit. helyzete, op. körében, politikai-szakmaipárttagsága felkészültségüknagyüzemek a gépipari értékelése, értelmezése op. cit., 2. Azéletszínvonal-politikánk GYML, X. 415/26/29, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/26/29, X. GYML, határozatáról, 5.-i december KB 1974. a beszámolója vezérigazgatójának Gépgyár Vagon-és AMagyar Mention must bemade of the a specific group, directproduction managers, whose 298 That having been said, he sought to pay competitive wages until he could, which 300 This, in fact, hindered the professional career of workers because the workers career of professional hinderedthe fact, This,in 299 Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ħ zése a VI. ötéves terv id terv ötéves aVI. zése Ę szakában, 1980. november 18. november 1980. szakában, Ę 301 könyve, Ħ sítési, The 128 CEU eTD Collection foremen, which“the party and the government rendered acentral inquestion 1970” Thematerial managersthe morethe of than workers. recognition 60% blue-collar the and working on Sundays. on working and in only 25-30 workers enterprisethe whoearnedmore than their superiorswith overtime was4,000Ft. Accordingwere reportthere the workers to blue-collar the average wageof receivedand even6,300Ftmanagers with a salary At of 6,700 Ft. same the time the atbetween managers stood IntheMotor UnitFt. 5,900 and wereforementhere 6,600 who while forementhe varied intheeight 5,100and 5,400Ft, the between of that plants managersaverageage of 44. of that was 41and foremen the eightplants employedblue-collarforemen 5,729 194 workers, and 46managers.The for Theshowed foreman on overage. (Seetable 23-45workers thatone 7). was responsible Vehicle) Wagon, RearBridge, structure, Auto, Motor, Factory Iron (Foundry, Blacksmith, though it was part of their job description.fact that many foremen were expected Theto drive trucks ensureto examinationthe supply materialof even of eight plants of the Wagon imposing workers. older on this of noted difficulties the report even the though certificate, wasahigh-school competence competent.professionally and politically (88-90%) (75-80%) be managerslower to restof The wereregarded incompetence. the professional 307 306 305 304 303 302 that the manager had a good relationshiphad he the managerthat managed. a with those good was mostimportant thatthe anotherthought in factory elsewhile organizedthe anything if he competent lead he hiswhether manager could waspolitically team regardless a that argued managers. speaker One of the competence the evaluated MVGalso the Ibid., 6. Ibid. Ibid., Melléklet. Ibid., 5. Ibid., 2. Ibid., 6. 306 Counting with these wages the foremen earned 30% more and 303 The executive committee of the party organization of 302 The proof of professional 305 304 The average wages of Theaveragewages They did not like that like not did They 307 was 129 CEU eTD Collection Rába and the international recognition of Rába products. (Collection of Rába archive). of Rába (Collection products. of Rába recognition international the and Rába tevékenységb Népszabadság factory (KatalinBossányi, 1986, op. cit). Bossányi also published articles about the enterprise in 310 napirendi anyagai. ASopronvárosi Pártbizottság Végrehajtó Bizottságának jelentése a munkaid 309 könny napirendi anyagai. A vállalati bels A vállalati anyagai. napirendi managers. find to difficultitwas and therefore money same couldthe earn workers blue-collar Ftin4,800-5,000 1984. Onemember of of committee executive county the argued that industry,forsituation. instance, Inlight basic the managers wageof production was direct fortunate in were a less enterprises Other Factory. Wagon inthe realized therefore 308 question of week. his hadbeen the question during what of doing employees the with weekend, inone job a weekly finished factory his in VGMK the of members the that boasted manager,who a instance, challenged for committee, executive the evidently formed the consciousness of the employees. The representative of MVG in the in honorary citizen of Gy made an Eveninvoices was 1986Horváth however, of discontent. the though reinforced chamber comrade Havasi spoke of the difficult economic situation that everybody everybody knows. that situation economic difficult of the spoke Havasi comrade chamber commercial the of meeting the “At policy. economic national of losers the they were performance of inhalf country the the second 1980s,believed the Rába-workers of that economic leak poor aboutthe information to started communist party the of wing revenue. currency for country the but workers the thought they that profited from little this of one most much successfulthe modern whichproduced enterprises, inWestern revenue as media national inthe waspresented Rába for material recognition. the Rába-workers Bossányi’s interview with Horváth isagood example for thispositive image of the profitable socialist GYML, X. 415/12/4, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/12/4, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/12/4, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/12/4, X. GYML, Ħ ipari vállalatainál,ipari 1984. május 29. The manager’s attempt to introduce a performance-based wage system in aperformance-basedwage introduce Rába system to The manager’sattempt 310 308 In fact, when economic reform was placed again on the agenda, and the reform Ę , the national daily. county The daily l származó jövedelem növelésének lehet növelésének jövedelem származó l Ę r and elected the man of the year, his titles did not compensate the Ę irányítási és érdekeltségi rendszer fejlesztésének eredményei Gy eredményei fejlesztésének rendszer és érdekeltségi irányítási Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Kisalföld Ę ségeir regularly reported about the economic results of results economic the about reported regularly Ę l, 1983. május 17. május 1983. l, 309 Stagnant real incomes, real Stagnant Ę Ę Ę könyve, könyve, Ę r város r utáni 130 CEU eTD Collection a Motorgyár Pártalapszervezetét 312 107. they were making a big everybodysensation propagated witha big mouththat we have to close the loss-making out factories. At ofthe same time, one casemy partnerwhen I have to repeat somethingwhen twenty times. Whenexactlywe thehad great conflict withKispest, this the filmhappened”. many people asked“After me how wasorgans: I party able local to smile.of the Well, objection I am of the inspite the in Ede Works habit of Tractor smiling Kispest Horváth,eitherof the at closing myselfthe orinitiated op. cit., 1990, Rába archive). Horváth himself took very seriously the economic criterion. According to his recollection he a Szerszámgépgyár Pártalapszervezetét Szerszámgépgyár a 313 produce lossesproduce intervene to on government the theirexpect rightfully results good have side. who ones the factories, other many It is untenable that there case the not is in for this economy.more people’s If the alwaysproduced Rába employees are enterprises (and not He explainedisdifficult whyitrealize so to production the According so3% our growth. to few), which 311 economic order and strong discipline, are at a disadvantage”. areat discipline, and strong economic order is a strict there where Factory, Wagon like the offactories employees sametime,the the high achievements. The conference of the labor management stressed that the reward the that stressed management labor the of conference The achievements. high will decently variousthe who againwork recognitionthe regulators the prevent of that for theemployees Itisbad news ones. profitable of expense the atthe making enterprises profit.beincannot loss-interest supportthe It of greater people’s the to economy invested inthemproduces because thecapital enterprises prospering foropportunities the moregive is it to time that statement the agreewith fully employees reception. The good in enterprise our of manager the with interview “The revenues: relate the poor economic performance of the country to the unfair redistribution of state because they indeed punished those whoworked well.because punishedthose theyindeed effect contradictory had a economicthe regulators that thought Factory Tool Industrial GYML, X. 415/537/2, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/537/2, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/537/2, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/537/2, X. GYML, The profitability of Rába was also frequently emphasized in the factory newspaper factory the in emphasized frequently also was Rába of profitability The 311 and they receive various favors (flexible working hours, VGMK, etc.) At VGMK, etc.) hours, working (flexible favors and various they receive Ę l, 1986.l, július. Ę l, 1986. november. 1986. l, 313 Many employees went asfar as to Népszabadság 312 The workers inthe workers The Rába (Collectionof had a very had a 131 CEU eTD Collection summer of summer1989. of interview of the in quoted tried toexplainmanager the also regime,for whatthe the majority of the respondents lived in their own houses or flats. or houses own in their lived respondents the of majority of respondents).The the survey found that people had settled livingconditions: the machine-manufacturing in enterprises county the involved 471 (nearlyRába-workers half survey of living membershipthe quoted ofthe standard among the of evaluation of the The middle class. socialist the standards of tothe corresponded class of working core the least skilled the of at housing conditions the that evidence is indirect butthere employees housingof state the isno program. There surveyof housingthe of Rába- conditions the employees than the Zeiss enterprise, which could distribute whole blocks of flats as a result the to tooffer flats fewer far had Rába it is that clear first, to the With respect transport. Fringe benefits and amore just redistribution they that linked it. with structure, economic the of reform the from benefit to expected therefore They industries. their loss-makingsponsor factories, wasoneof enterprise profit-makingthe whichhad to that thought they but agreed they structure, economic the criticized reformers the When workedeconomic less country the situation of they hadnot since before.as unjust than too”. employees, our of opinion isthe Thisexactly achievement. tothe be proportionate should 316 október. 1986. 315 jelentése, információs Pártbizottságának 314 Az életszínvonal-politikánk értelmezése a gépipari nagyüzemek párttagsága körében, op. cit. op. körében, párttagsága nagyüzemek a gépipari értelmezése Azéletszínvonal-politikánk ‘Beszélgetés Horváth Edével, a Rába MVG vezérigazgatójával’, op. cit. GYML,MSZMP415/537/2, X. MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. AVagongyár 314 The quotations reveal the process revealThe quotations of hasbeen process “darkened” political the the how climate The two most important fringe mostThe housing wereof support benefits two public the and 315 People regarded the financial restrictions that were necessitated by by the necessitated thatwere restrictions financial the People regarded 316 The high number of number high The 132 CEU eTD Collection 322 321 320 felhasználása,3, 1979. március 21. commuters (39% in Gy the jegyz 319 jegyz 318 317 people could rely help the on and of friends. relatives young and building-plots the gave who parents the often was it villages: the in cheaper was the enterprise. the usually life in tenants: 1979, 18of the of tenants enterprisethe flatsworkedno longerin flats. these to move could workers 23 white-collar collar and becauseopportunity had inflats Rábaonly Gy 93 tenancy in one of the flats that belonged to the enterprise; it was, however, a very limited work forwork adetermined there period of time. agreeto and enterprise with the sign contract a had to recipients becausethe unconditional was not support The flats. buy to employees the to rates preferential at Rába offered co-operatives. buy enterprise to loans andOTP-flats received for 131blue-collar workers housing support funds. developmentthe funds and170employees received 2122,000Ftfrom solidarity the wassolved.209 white-collarfrom 447peoplereceiveda workers) Fttotal of 22,465,000 put in a claimfor aflatout of which problemthe of 601 employees (392blue-collar and construction company of insolved (Ipar=industry) flatconstruction Ipar street project the company of 1976. The Jelentés a vállalati lakásépítési hozzájárulás felhasználásáról, op. cit., 2. cit., op. felhasználásáról, hozzájárulás lakásépítési vállalati a Jelentés Szóbeli tájékoztató vállalatunk dolgozóinak lakáshelyzetér dolgozóinak vállalatunk tájékoztató Szóbeli cit. op. felhasználásáról, hozzájárulás lakásépítési vállalati a Jelentés GYML,415/200/2, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai, Pártbizottsági ülés GYML,415/197/2, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai, Pártbizottsági ülés vidékr A Ę Ę könyve, Szóbeli tájékoztató vállalatunk dolgozóinak lakáshelyzetér 30. január 1978. 3, felhasználásáról, hozzájárulás lakásépítési vállalati a Jelentés könyve, 321 The enterprise offered two specific types of specific toemployees.help Theycould of get two types The enterprise offered The enterprise launched one workers’ housing project in launched co-operation The project housing with state the enterprise oneworkers’ Between 1971 and 1977 148 blue-collar and 101 white-collar workers received workers blue-collar 101white-collar and Between1971and1977148 Ę l bejáró dolgozóink helyzete, op. cit. op. helyzete, dolgozóink bejáró l 322 319 The second, more widespread form more The was form widespreadof second, support enterprise loan the that Ę r factories)improved alsor living conditions because building 320 Between 1,093 employees 1979, 1970 and Ę Ę l, op. cit., 1. cit., op. l, r. Between 1971 and 1977, 10 blue- 1977,10 r. Between 1971 and 317 Ę l. Avállalati lakástámogatás 318 The occupants were occupants The 133 CEU eTD Collection jegyz 327 június 26. napirendi anyagai. Tájékoztató ’Az ifjúság társadalmi helyzete, apárt feladatai’ c. anyagvitájáról, 1984. 326 325 324 problems of 120 people. 323 for more than three-four years.more than forthree-four in flatput no claim and there was claim flat second every solved and enterprise the 1979 1970 fashionable between today”: become so has flat problem that “severe experienced the not have employees the that stress however, did, enterprise the of committee flat the Rába-employees. the to 14flats only offered instance, council for the 1979, council for offlats, which theprovision could helpsubstantially feweryear. in people In a “creeping in of the oil crisis” – as it was called – the government increased the price of price increased the government –the called it was –as crisis” oil inof the “creeping have fornot and the timeoften they andenergy did activities. social and party much youth home too establish occupied working-class work to own their thethat extra improve the chance of youth to get settled”. get youth to of thechance improve income extra help the farming, friends’ from the and villages cheaperground-plots, the in Inthe flats intwo-five (e.g. Csorna). youth: people years get canusually chance to a better give towns small The situation. difficult incomein most the -are noextra have material circumstances – namely,young people in live bigwhothe cities, wages, from their andhave whose parents similar they cannot count on the helpuniformly negatively evaluated.of We can summarizetheir the opinions in the following ways: the parents and they establishment independent of an household: “Thechance youth buy of to isa flat not inyouth of that county increasinglythe in social mattered the admitted background the social onthe situation flats. Even areport acquire young desired the to people chances of GYML,415/236/4, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai, Pártbizottsági ülés GYML, MSZMP X.415/156/1/3, Gy Ibid., 4. Ibid. Szóbeli tájékoztató vállalatunk dolgozóinak lakáshelyzetér dolgozóinak vállalatunk tájékoztató Szóbeli Ę könyve, Jelentés a KISZ munkájáról, 1, 1986. december 27. december 1986. 1, munkájáról, KISZ a Jelentés könyve, Other criticisms emerged in the 1980s, which was mainly targeted at unequal the mainly inwas targeted 1980s,which criticisms emergedthe Other 323 In the following years the enterprise had to rely on the city 325 Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-SopronBizottsága. Pártbizottsági jegyz ülés 326 The party Theparty of MVG reported organization Ę l, op. cit., 3. cit., op. l, 324 A report of 327 With the With Ę könyve, 134 CEU eTD Collection MMG ifjúságának társadalmi helyzetér Mosonmagyaróvári Mez Mosonmagyaróvári október. 1985. 331 jelentése, információs Pártbizottságának 330 a Futóm a 329 public transport of the employees; on the other hand, informants reported informants hand, reported increasingof of public employees;other the an on transport argumentation. hand,theenterprise Onthe support for the didindeedone givegenerous much for afuture as their parents’ generation had when young.they were countries”. in capitalist the incomes against higher the We cheaprentsasanargument the often socialistsociety.used the to pay the price of every service’. Many people think that the state flat is an achievement of ‘one has would say that some flatsareangry others livein while who state people. Those of dependedon involvement the course, of Theresponses, amongdebates employees. the triggered rents loud state of the measures the “Out increase of party:the planned the slogan of onepropaganda was housing because thecheap population amongresponse the petrol of Theincrease and flats rentsof found utilities. the state the negative aparticularly a Szerszámgépgyár Pártalapszervezetét Szerszámgépgyár a 328 organizations to the lack of material prospects. material lackof the to organizations communist the in youth working-class of interest of level low the related instance, explain the political indifference of youth: a report from the Mosonmagyaróvár plant, for entertainment”. and of education healthy group burden thisage-flatforpricesdeprives flatgreat of a increased.The saving the contrary, for the Thirteenthimportant mostissue problem in The isthe youth. thepreparation up came topic of today’s PartyThe up inproblem brought was information the inof report 1985:“The October MVG flat Congress but since then there has been no progress. On the GYML,415/529/8/5, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai, A GYML,415/534/12, MSZMP X. Vagon-ésMagyar Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. AVagongyár GYML, X. 415/533/30, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML, X. 415/528/2, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/528/2, X. GYML, Ħ Interestingly, reports on the state of public transport allows for a similar line of saidIn 1984,workers 10-15timescosta flat more that income. than their annual Pártalapszervezetét Ę gazdasági Gépgyár (MMG) pártbizottsági ülésének jegyz ülésének pártbizottsági (MMG) Gépgyár gazdasági Ę l, 1984. szeptember. 1984. l, Ę Ę l, 1985.l, október8. l, 1982. október. 1982. l, 328 331 330 Young people may not have seen as seen have not may people Young The flat problem was often used to Ę könyve, Jelentés a Rába a Jelentés könyve, 135 329 CEU eTD Collection employees39% paid of 324,811Ft). employeesthe of Gy the whotraveled bybus paid 50%(the around enterprise paid atotal andof 290,880 Ft, the and Ft) those 54,732 while employees Ft, the 523,932 atotal of paid fares enterprise (the significant part of the fares. The employees who traveled by train paid only 10% of the carriages were old and damaged. Many wagons had no or poorheating and windows the hadnoor andcarriages damaged.Many wagons wereold andtrains andthe dirty, many workers’ wereovercrowded that the There were complaints employees. of comfortable eightprovideforthe transport new the to buses year ordered enterprise the plant 1979 theenterprisesolve hadtwelve busesto of theemployeesthe transport airport tothe Rába-workers. 365 of tickets faresbus railfaresthe employees, of the thecombined 2,108 employees,and of 2,595 40-60% of 40-60% of busthe fares of an employee, depending distance.the on paid forbus enterprise support travel. The was nostate pay 14%,whilethere hadonly to employee the and 66% covered enterprise fare, the the of 20% covered state the because for both the was valid in atadiscount ticket combined (Acombined tickets or enterprise. bus, rail,the bus and the train). The percentage of reimbursement was higher for rail or buses, to their workplace, or cycled. or workplace, their buses,to or reports.). The overwhelming majority of employeesthe traveledby public trains transport, information topic the of aseparate constituted (Public transport regime. for the people the mood of ifitwith had oftraveling badpolitical conditions as the the expressed discontent 336 335 334 333 time. working during bicycles of 332 Avidékr The airport plant was located outside of the town. Ibid. Avidékr full were estate empty neighboring the and enterprise, the of yard the partners, interview the to According 335 The travel allowance was, apparently, significant. In The enterprise apparently,In supported 1980, the travel allowance was, significant. , which employed 3,440people (30%of in total the workforce Gy Ę Ę l bejáró dolgozóink helyzete, op. cit., 3. l bejáró dolgozóink helyzete, op. cit., 1. 336 According to the report the same could not be said of the railway transport. 334 This in practice meant that the support covered a covered themeant support that in This practice 332 From1968 the employees could buy seasonal Ę r plants werecommuters. In 333 Ę r). In the samer). 136 CEU eTD Collection allegedly solved public transport between allegedly publictransport solved Ménf Volán routes. workers’ afternoon and morning the on conditions tolerable achieve to like is becauseit onlya But wewouldWeyears. traveling speakofcomfortable wish. don’t frustration:“Civilized has public transport been neglected on 80% of busthe linesfor write a long report on the state intolerable”. become can thiswinter, over-crowdedness of public transport, which revealsimpossible the general increase to ofget on the bus at the Verseny ABC bus stop “Line 20 money”. their for conditions traveling “peopleand theincrease number lines?” Theinformant addedthat of expecthuman Pártbizottságának információs jelentése, 1984. október. 1984. jelentése, információs Pártbizottságának 342 341 340 reason to be angry with the on them. The passengersof buseswhopay the Ftfor aseason400-500 ticket also a have Csanak people who occupy inprovide long-distance buses,which soover-crowded arrive can’tget Csanak thatpeople their places when they go home plant. Why can’t Volán time that we criticize theaddressed the problem overcrowdingof asaof source everyday isanger: “It not first the poor standard of public frequently in Information reports the1980s. however, abundant transport became criticism, from Adyváros to the airport causing aproduction loss of 810,000 Ftto enterprise.the later one hour work the employees started of1980,1,591 quarter In the first winter. couldbemanagement properly. closed not in The were criticized there that frequent delays a SzerszámgépgyárPártalapszervezetét 339 338 337 GYML,MSZMP415/534/3, X. MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. AVagongyár ABC=chain of state food shops. Verseny=competition. plant. airport the and Adyváros between line Bus GYML, X. 415/528/2, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/528/2, X. GYML, company. bus state ofthe name The Ibid., 2. The conditions of city transport may well have been poor throughout the period; the throughout poor been have well may transport city of conditions The 340 is inextremely overcrowded morningthe People hours. itis complain that 338 take into consideration that more into by consideration people travel bus take that inwinter Ę l, 1982.l, június. 339 After two years we can read the same criticism: same the read we can years Aftertwo Ę csanak andGy 342 337 One informant angry did indeed 341 Ę . With the coming of the r, butall they wasto r, did 137 CEU eTD Collection a Járm a 347 sometimes a political connotation similar to the comment on the shortage of carbonic acid, carbonic of shortage the on comment the to similar connotation political a sometimes of town”. the thereputation destroys “itmenu because from the many people)”. of mouth in the bitter turned it (although day that on meat consuming from refrain not did people byservingdish. ameat Butduring theit meal out turned that they who those hurt religious hurt feelings of the to necessary itwas wondered whether In thecanteen people Friday Good like friedbecause itthey stale meat oldprobably the leather tasted shoesole. understandable irony.understandable with on case the commented informant -an acid”, of carbonic shortage a was presumably The machines indeed did arrive butthey remained in their packagingfor ayear. “There machines soda ordered in in the toprovide summer theemployees order drinks. with cold anger hasbeen mounting”. passengers’ the only changed, has nothing then since Ever transport. city of organization’ manager reassured his audience that they would solve the problem with a ‘better a Futóm 346 345 a Kovács Pártalapszervezett 344 Debrecen and Gy and Debrecen in Volán the managers of in the interview with an that is It characteristic number! a town wasindeed a compressed and town route not atown route passengercarrier equipped with if orwouldbe a moodfor a home. at good work ‘secondshift’ the creates very It good other option than to trample on the others and swallow their scoldingno have and grumbling?they and Csanak, This to travel to want only if they do they can what But work. from a T. M. K. Pártalapszervezett 343 GYML, X. 415/211/33, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML, X. 415/533/30, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságánakenterprise. Zeiss the in also jokes anyagai. topolitical rise Információsgave food Canteen jelentés GYML, X. 415/211/28, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML, X. 415/534/5, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/534/5, X. GYML, Ħ II. Pártalapszervezetét II. Ħ This kindirony of itselfmanifested in information other The reports. forge-shop Pártalapszervezetét 346 Another informant proposed that the kitchen drop the “Gy the drop kitchen the that proposed informant Another Ę r, the former said that they plan to buy theGy buy while newbuses plan they to former the that said r, 344 Ę l, 1982.július. Ę Ę l, 1984. április. Ę l, 1984. április. Canteen food was another frequent source of of ridicule source frequent wasanother food Canteen l, 1982. november. 1982. l, 343 347 The canteen jokes had jokes canteen The Ę r” small roast small r” 345 : “On 138 Ę r CEU eTD Collection see: EszterZsófia Tóth, ’Egy állami díjas n Társadalomtudományi Közlemények building because the members of the brigades were expected to meet regularly to meetand regularly to were expected brigades of the members because the building atcommunity aimed itwas time the same butat increase competition to sought admittedly and material recognition (the title of excellent brigade, premium, etc.). The movement The accomplishment of the tasks was then evaluated and the best brigades received moral in tasks accomplishingextra and education. themselvesproduction brigades committed to general criteriasupposed tobe the main basis educationof workers’ and cultureit butwas difficult give to for how of lives workers. actually inthe played whatrole the brigades to measure their efficiency.Socialist brigades In principle, the members tocrumble. thesystem had loyalty that to started of the were members of the party (and often low-level party functionaries), this criticism revealed as future”, ithad been done during the period of forcedindustrialization. informants Since “bright adistant with them consol could longer no which system, the of results actual the between and promises the gap the realized Works. People LeninSteel the furnacemen of of cooks”. the incompetence Thesethe be through explained increasein the mistakes can through explained prices. be meals cannot and tasteless pasta “overcooked the that observation instance, the for dolgozni, tanulni, élni. Helyzetkép a brigádmozgalomról’, a Helyzetkép élni. tanulni, dolgozni, 349 december. 1982. jelentése, információs Pártbizottságának 348 Közlemények ’A nagyipari üzemek munkáskollektíváinak társadalmi-politikai aktivitása’, GYML,415/211/41, MSZMP X. Vagon-ésMagyar Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. AVagongyár Forcontemporary literature onsocialist brigades see: Gabriella Béky- ZoltánZétényi, ’Szocialista módon The surviving contemporary The surviving contemporary sources of brigadein work Rába tell us indeedlittle of The critical comments support the experience that Burawoy had among the , 8,, no.2-3 (1978), 199-205; id.,’A szocialista brigádok közösséggé fejl 348 , 8,, 1(1978), no. 10-26; Edit S Ę i brigád mikrotörténete’ (Ph. D., ELTE BTK, Budapest, 2004). Valóság, 20,11 (1977), no. 53-63; Dezs Ę tér, op.cit.tér, 1977.From recent literature 349 Socialist brigades were brigades Socialist Társadalomtudományi Ę Ę Kalocsai désér 139 Ę l’, CEU eTD Collection refusal to evaluate the work evaluate In work refusal tothe axleof linethe party the groups. andbridge production and with the report the alsowith “Iagree managementauthority: issueof the do over field”. his in brigade socialist no was there that form evaluation in the declared who manager a answers that we are notcompetent in this,it isnot ourbusiness. Or another case: there was weinformedthat angered management the problemsthe them of field. intheir We received higherthe bodies. We couldnot speak about problemsthe thatwehad in production. It discuss movementwith no Therewas of opportunity contact. simply the problems the to management. We met the managers only if the the with task was contact verythe of issue urgent. the up brought There speaker wasformer noThe regular problems. family other’s each knew They reasonably. more money the used they but feasts on premium the spend brigade of not did members our The country. the across made library, excursions we own his has everybody almost college, or school secondary finished people sixteen then since collective even can special work without warning. Ourbrigade wasformed nine yearsago, a can that tell a former I brigadier, “As brigade work: hindering with management chargedthe often openly Brigadiers authority. managers astheirown the that regarded intervene in to movement, attempted production decisions particularly when workers the withhad managementrelationship brigade an the the suggest that however, ambivalent “Outstanding enterprise”. of title given the in brigade. of diary the the recorded were Theseprograms keep their commitments. to in order programs organize common 352 351 350 A szocialista munkaverseny és a brigádmunka fejlesztésének feladatai vállalatunknál, op. cit., 3. cit., op. Ibid., vállalatunknál, 4. feladatai fejlesztésének brigádmunka a és munkaverseny szocialista A brigadiers. former with interviews from Information 352 In a base-cell meeting a brigadier reported of a similar conflict with with the of a similar reported conflict brigadier a meeting In abase-cell In 1975 the Wagon Factory In “the redflag Wagon Factory 1975 the Work”, anditwon wandering of was 350 351 The available party documents ofMVG, documents party Theavailable 140 CEU eTD Collection jegyz 354 ösztönzés forrásainak további fejlesztése, 14-15, 1977. február 18. február 1977. 14-15, fejlesztése, további forrásainak ösztönzés equally counts towards our results”. our towards counts equally Theirwork better. well, even work or also organized inbrigades, who are not those, manymay find that we other45%do? the individual Whatwe compare work, of If do is contestin enterprise. work 55% of organization our socialist the the we declare that we call We excellent work. brigade often have problems –whenthey figures,request our what is disputable it similarly, and worker blue-collar a of that with worker a white-collar inexamine some fields. Iwouldlike easy Itis to thiscompare question. not to the work of me, I cannotagree with the following. The report states that there is excellent brigade work comparability brigadesof (and thus, about validity the impressiveof statistics): “Asfor about the his doubts openly expressed speaker MVG. One party of the organization anyway?” one andnotgetany. Idid Why should wetell our problemsabout ifthey won’t besolved itof because itwon’t be solved anyway. hadatool Ialso problem,get Iwaspromised to us. […]Inmy care about view, hashishe but every speak not own would worker problem not did it because union trade the and management the in lie better not was work brigade of why our reasons brigade atall. The form we couldthis thing that itwas agreat because evenbrigade work every meeting.I attended though brigade Then I resignedmy from post isno there that they said where a meeting we had brigade our of formation the year after one that fact the on this base I factory. the of level the at ignored is totally work political 353 do. There are many documentaries of brigade life on isin Therelife TV. ofbrigade that films on nothing the aremany do. There documentaries what we see here is only a search for solutions. They can’t decide what the brigades should membershard perform should physical amorework, begiven lenientevaluation: “I think GYML,X. 415/202/3/5, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai,Pártbizottsági ülés Jegyz Ę könyve. A szocialista munkaverseny 1977. évi el 1977. munkaverseny A szocialista könyve. The main tasks of socialist brigades triggered debates in of committee brigades debates triggered The maintasksofsocialist executive the Ę könyv a MotorPártalapszervezet 1977. január 26.-i taggy 353 354 Another speaker proposed that the brigades, whose brigades, the that proposed speaker Another Ę készítésének tapasztalatai, az anyagi-erkölcsi az tapasztalatai, készítésének Ħ lésér Ę l, op.cit., l, 5-6. 141 CEU eTD Collection 357 ZsófiaTóth (eds.), op. cit., 2003, 126-139. szocialista brigád képe a sajtóban és a tagok emlékezetében’, in: Sándor Horváth –László Peth together. And there were very few who wanted to be left out of this company”. Becausethey hadanice onpaper.Ridiculous. time because tasks the people undertook Not somewhere. went always we time that at football, play to bowl, to went we united, more time To concerts…andwas atthat community you the canimagine,what everywhere. and cinema, to the went we colleagues, the of babies see the to we went that remember BecauseI others. the to topay wanted peopleattention also But Onpaper. others. brigades, we all knew each other. At that time they said that we have to pay attention to the helped them (or others) through of networks cases when reported also social supportive solidarity. partners these Interview private hardships. programs among contacts strengthened reinforcing colleagues,thus cohesion social and “It was much better with family even and leisure sometimes The common offormer accounts cited brigadiers. the the socialist participated in intensive life an community argument, which – an was also in developed production. suggest brigade that lifefor wasmorecommunity-building important thanfor that”. We understand should meetings. common the for time have don’t They a rest. have to home go to happy are they theatre, borrowing from others where library,the people -andthere and finish are work – tasks of fulfilled the keep aregular record brigades that Thereare aspects of evaluation. difficult to realize wethe have socialist not done. work Or docontest we maybe in ourset enterprise.too high standards? We have toWe usehave different to admit that it is with postsocialist memories see: EszterZsófia Tóth,‘Egy kitüntetés befogadástörténete: Egy állami díjas n 356 355 Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (55). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation For an interesting study of contrasting the representation of socialist brigades in the contemporary media contemporary the in brigades of socialist representation the 5. cit., op. ofcontrasting study interesting an For vállalatunknál, feladatai fejlesztésének brigádmunka a és munkaverseny szocialista A Despite the positive figures of the socialist workcontest, even the surviving sources 356 In life-history interviews many former brigade members having reported 355 357 Ę –Eszter 142 Ę i CEU eTD Collection Other interview partners consciously distanced themselves from of themselves from propaganda the the interview consciously Other partners distanced formulated, people had partner and anice timelittleideology.they together the about cared brigades linked werenot Communist with ideology in As theeyes of people.interview one are not that many, everybody runs home after work, has other business”. other has work, after home runs everybody many, that not are and we had a good chat. We don’t have this today, people don’t have time, even though we a restaurant, to invited we went regularly them bring people,was I or together to possible so it -, group in this brigadier was the – sinceI too I represented, that brigadespirit that individualistic:spirit, had old community more “That become generally society agreed that The life life-history inmany decline of community interviews: was addressed people other Eve. But people also came to us, we went from flat to flat together, we had a great time”. flatsleast in Years’ 35 in, I visited house.80flats.New When at forwe moved our holds gopeoplecompanywantto to don’t because individualtheir of Butthisproblems. also fashionable longer perhaps today, Itisno intheafternoon. hecame even though still excuse, serious had– istired areally only other one notime,has the 22.One itwas only people10 yearsmany brought camebecausetheir –last agofamilies, –so, time too 60-65 Now the same company – okay, not the same because 3-4 already retired, but there are new get toknoweachother,They hadininterestedto werealsoopportunity it. an they and couple of times inayear. Whenthefirst wassuccessful,likely come were they again. to workplace than today. Ican say this as brigadier.a Iinvited them to this anglers’ camp in a communities better establish to possible was it time that “At regime: capitalist new, of the experience tothe people,the with important morebeen had workplace 360 (62). 359 358 Quotation from an interview with a former brigadier (53). brigadier former a with interview an from Quotation Quotation from an interview with aformer brigadier, who represented MVG partner. in the interview executiveof the house committee weekend the in conducted was interview The While many interview partners recalled community life While many interviewcommunity recalled partners loss,with a sense of Many interview partners directly contrasted the old times, when communities at the at communities when times, old the contrasted directly partners interview Many 360 358 143 359 a CEU eTD Collection us with everything”. past, okay there was a lot of Marxism, but we didnot take it seriously, they could not fool not so bad, excursions with the wrotebrigade, in cinemas,the I diary much, very reading like I thetoo, member, oflibrarian collective eminent thean was I so [laughs] brigade,members was very we differenthad lectures, in the drinking,librarianhavingto the library, wereeminent went barbecues, wealso there we planned socialism [laughs],young, we itused was to go out, it a wasdifferent not bad atage, all. a differentWe wentisit about others, care they now don’t differently, somehow people wererelated different, to thestyle, pub, everybodyto the wine-cellar, says,I am it notwas notnostalgic, so bad in the past, was all communist propaganda,I think, butno, today you organizelike can’t anything that, really we were not, becausecollective was very different, forinstance those the socialistbrigades, itis easy to say now that it the past times the “In then: back different was life community were that maintaining while regime, also not very good, but it was 361 the brigadiers. This suggests that the brigadewas asa“circusfor the thatthe suggests movement regarded brigadiers.the This of influence weak the of indicative be may which management, the and workers the with sourcesin brigadiers speak that quoted the “us” of typically would and“them” in relation is Ithis brigadier,the spoke of atwork. tools likewiseremarkable problem who obtaining of complaint the out pointing is worth it sense this in powerlessness; of feeling common by the often reinforced solidarity was can beargued that It indeed with regime. the than situation) similar less or more in a was everybody (where group their with themselves weremuchbecause achieve goal its more likelypeople propagandistic identify to improvenot their proprietary Itdidconsciousness. improve community life butit failed to it and did decisions influenceincrease onproduction workers’ not did brigade movement Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (49). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation Both the interviews life-history and the local support sources the argument thethat 361 144 CEU eTD Collection half hours because they workers, the agreewith Horváthtalkednot half hours they because wages.Ede to their did against oftheregimehierarchies. weakening old attack and the political the from inseparable was case last in the manifest style leadership autocratic his to objection vehement the heyday; his in manager the oppose to dared few only control managerial thestrict more freedom. Given for called that climate in apolitical reception and the manager’s regulation of paid in holiday 1986,which had a particularly negative in introduces strike cases:an three a seriessection of in 1977; attempted dismissals 1979; within the gates of the factory but itremain not did and employees the manager the was between conflict when the documented, reported to the leading county partyhe until position in kept that SomeMSZMP dissolution of casescanbe the 1989. still organs. The a Committee, hea member Central the was of 1970 because since official party the of consideredHorváth be to his was, of territory. himself Horváth course, ahigh-ranking which factory, of in the policies intervene the to attempted rarely however, county, county and Ede Horváth, which ended with the defeat of the secretary, the leadership of the organization of Rába MVG. After the memorable conflict between the first secretary of the enterprise,the andit influence could personnel indirectly the party also the through policy Opposing themanagement did not trigger a political climate that was favorable for the regime. – difficulties economic growing the and – this that assumed be can it but meetings brigade message.We of knowhowmuchnot, the understood in dowas course, politics discussed people” by even party,the and inthelight of interviews, life-history the actually people On 4 July 1977 64 workers in working factory On July 197764workers forunit28 of MVG stopped and 4 one In principle, the party leadership of the county could intervene in the labor policy of 145 CEU eTD Collection 364 normakarbantartás végrehajtásának szükségességér bérek és jövedelmek alakulásáról, azalkalmazott ösztönz 363 1977. augusztus 16. osztály, Tájékoztató az MVG Vagon28-as üzemébenvégzett vizsgálatokról és a 2 heti jutalom kifizetésér two weeks of maintenance in MVG). of the party committee of the county, and aninvestigation followed (meanwhile there were economics department tothe Thework. return to casewasreported finally agreedto who 362 the two-week wage that was denied from them. We do not know to what extent the what extent know to notWe do from them. was denied wage that two-week the plan in the third quarter of the year, they would getboth the promised one-week wage plus inif the who receive not all did setpremium the fulfilling theysucceeded that employees to promised itwas and protested wererevised, workers in the where unit the wage-scales the management: and the workers the between was finally a settlementreached report management. by the whothoughtthattheyhadbeen deceived workers, explain managers the failed this situation to Rear Suspension the to Vehicle Factories and and workers of the units that did the among managements The was total workforce). distributed (43%of 7,671employees not fulfill this plan did not fulfilling million 44%of 95,4%of Ft). plan(6,446 the setthe million premium,Ftreceive 12,9 this premium. In the Thein succeeded enterprise couldfulfill increasedtarget. unitsthe the wage for that first half year of 1977.planned production value wasincreasedmillion from 6,335 Ft to6,760million Ftin the To motivate the employees, laborcompany’s department, butno they Afurther problem wasthat answer. received MVG set a premium the to complained They experience. relevant lackedthe they because wages average of a two-week earn low andthe not were where they wage-scales could new the unit work, received pay increase butdecidedof 6% toincrease normsby the 10%. anaverage MVG gave In 1977, conflict. triggered that the factors several of coincidence Tájékoztató az MVG Vagon 28-as üzemében végzett vizsgálatokról, op. cit., 2. GYML,415/197/4, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai.Jelentés az1977. évi GYML,415/12/22, X. MSZMP Gy Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Apparátus Bizottsága. iratai. Gazdaságpolitikai 362 Ę l, 1977.l, június 15. The investigation found that there wasa there found that Theinvestigation Ę bérrendszerek hatékonyságáról, 363 The workers of the given 364 According tothe 146 Ę l, CEU eTD Collection a Vagon Fémipari Alapszervezett 367 hourly weeks wage: “In employees mainly past the in with our were changethe concerned from breakfastbuy they their likewise couldnot a proper that complained forge-shop unitis not good!” means that in 1979 we will live worse than today. In sum: high pricesthe too onlyby willincrease of because goods consumer incomes which 2%, the mood of the workers of the increase of 4,5% the They consider Committee. Central of meeting the of the communiqué party the whichdues and rejectingpapersto the they Peoplesubscribed. discussed also the membersof They them are of tothis by responded topay party,the too. decision refusing worked and thequality signed.control They are all of members tradeunionthe and some strengthen the qualityhad control,alreadycontrol quality the signed. that etc. wages rightful but high the receive but not did workers the TheitDecember cannotworkers refuse say that to paythe manifested itself in criticalpoliticalspoilt “It comments: of mood the unitthe the12 on that department wages for ofwhich labor they can revise the norms, that of a skilled worker, and a trolley driver sometimes earns more”. earns sometimes driver and atrolley worker, of askilled that his breakfast from this money. It is absurd that the wage of a crane operator is the same as whohasworker, for manyworked years,is paid 15-16 Ftfor an hour! He evencannot buy 40%. Accordingsome –and cases increase This in wagesby the candecrease 30- quality requirements. to the workers increaseinstancewages. Thiswasfor of highin the norms the - which unreasonably was their influenced negatively that events it recent with concerned mainly are shouldworkers “Our not be allowed that an experienced skilled by 222 people in summer.that MVG decreased the personnel blue-collar of atany rate, influenced decision; the stoppage a Vagon Fémipari Alapszervezett Fémipari Vagon a 366 365 GYML, X. 415/198/7, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/198/7, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/198/7, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/198/7, X. GYML, Ibid., 3. According to the information reports the workers’ discontent with wages frequently 366 After half year the mood of the workers wastobe again bad:mood yearreported of workers Afterthe the half Ę Ę l, 1979.l, május. l, 1978. december. 1978. l, 365 367 Workers from the 147 CEU eTD Collection az Új Acélöntödéb 370 (May 25 1979). of management’labour (6April1979), ‘The revisionof the personnel was finished Szombathely’ also in personnel: We have to supportget the the of of decent the employees’ revision (30March1979), ‘Comments the of on the revision experiences ‘The 1979), March (16 principle’ economic basic a reinforce should decide: Only necessarythe ofnumber people be should employedfora givenjob’ 1979), (2March ‘We one-sided picture (and limited information) of this step. Some characteristic titles are: ‘Capacity and quality the revisionthe found a surplus of 804 employees (Bossányi,op.cit., 38). The dismissed? It cannotbe the aim of our society increaseto insecurity.We would alsolike to information because everybody party asks members:our whatdoyou know, who will be “Weneed attitudes: revision reinforcedof precise personnel likewise anti-manager the likepossible MVGdismissespeople”. developing enterprise thatadynamically about the situation of the people’s economy. They do not understand, for instance, how itis information of afraid abit they open the are Perhaps of people’s economy. the actions current the of approve fully not do They policy. economic our about lot a talk employees measure“The of asa problems Many regardedthe people’s the of economy: the result acceptnot offered the position,closed, and were 102positions 480people werelaidoff. in production, new work 98people did administrative enterprise, the to 344received staff were 1318employees:retired,transferred from 124 revision the 170 affected forfind The the wholost had city council Rába-workers, employment their to The jobs. labor. surplus of lay-offs then and work their of evaluation an employee, every of duties acheck on work the He ordered staff. number administrative the todecreasethe of sought Horváth blue-collarworkers; atthe targeted was not in The decision comments 1979. 369 jam”. breakfast anddo –astheysay hardphysical – onecannot whilelivingwork onbreadand normal a cover not does wage hourly their that said They much. too be definitely to prices. They agreed with some of the items but they found theincrease in the price of meat a V. J. Kovács Pártalapszervezett 368 GYML, X. 415/202/32, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés László (ed.),Tóth GYML, X. 415/199/28, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés 368 Horváth’s decision to “revise the personnel” triggered similarly negative political negative similarly triggered personnel” the “revise to decision Horváth’s Ę l, 1979. április. Gy Ę r-Sopron Ę l, 1979. július. (Budapest,Kossuth Kiadó, 1984),107. Inaninterview saidHorváth that Rába newspapergave a rather 370 The 148 369 CEU eTD Collection közhangulatot jellemz 374 373 of amonglarge party membership. the parts even reception apositive found reforms and for call political the deteriorated, country the had manager’s the theeconomicof holiday of prospects averybadtiming: regulation paid communication from measure, the poor of the Apart at beginning dates the year. the of of management inform should they and year a once holiday their take should employees the that decided Horváth labor, of management the improve to order In management. which employeesthe refrain notdid from theirexpressing of opinions one-man be more insecure. to climate political the revealed people perceived that theirlittle comments were affected, their trade uniontheirpay cardsand trade trade union refused to party the anddues”. back gave people Many issue. the up brought MVG in base-cells the of all Almost rules. of democratic andtherigidunion enforcementthe disregardof trade the preparation, the influenced thepolitical mood of People town. the by wereangered absence the of “Theissue: manager paidthe of decision of holiday MVG toregulate negatively very the with dealt county the of report information the Even employees. the of opposition fierce the met democracy of enterprise ignorance and manager’s the regulation heartless” managers – only a surplus suddenly labor on ago, is asurplus (notasurplus contrary,the of of that realize the there of the employees!)”.job know what happens to the managers, who employed surplus labor. They also did abad a T.M. K. Pártalapszervezett 372 371 union estimated the decrease of be in thedecrease 24-64%inApril production union various dues to the units of estimated GYML,415/187/2, X. MSZMP Gy Thecounty reports that support this statement are introduced inthe following chapter. GYML, X. 415/202/29, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. original. Információs inthe is Stress jelentés . 371 The same people, who complained about the shortage of labor two-three months labor two-three of shortage the about whocomplained people, The same The regulation of paid holiday triggered more vehement protests in 1986during vehementmore protests holiday The paid of triggered regulation Ę f Ę bb tendenciák, 1986. április. Ę l, 1979. május. Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. A lakossági 373 In this atmosphere the “senseless and 372 Even though the blue-collar Even though the workers 374 The trade 149 CEU eTD Collection a Hátsóhíd Alapszervezetét 377 közhangulatot jellemz 376 közhangulatot jellemz enterprise council, collective decision-making plays no role in our enterprise even inno even enterprise cases in role plays decision-making our collective council,enterprise an have we although that now thinks Everybody democracy! enterprise torpedoes decision this go, it let simply not can We majority. large the of wish the ignore just some can people that and attitude rigid unreasonably this understand don’t vouchers. They in the conversations. Particularly those people are angry who had to give back their holiday tradeunionthe democracy: “The ofholiday and topic enterprise up comes frequently still many people toquestion highthe number of awards on 1 May”. pay Willingness to union led declined. unfavorableeconomictrade The situation dues in MVG. employees the of majority the of disapproval the met holiday paid of regulation warned provoking against in unfavorable people economic“In the county situation: our the pay). level to the refused and (3,800employees of 20%at enterprise the 375 protest”. membersFourteen of union trade the gavemembership backtheir cards as a sign of inhuman. be to consider they that decision manager’s the with first’ comes ‘family the that radio the in declaration the compare They director. managing the criticize they and union followinginopinions ofthe the areexpressed peoplespeakof weakness the ways: trade Extremist step. anti-democratic be an to it consider They decision. significant this before subsided.which has not People say themanagementthat ask didfor not their opinions andprotests resistance, vehement “triggered Factory, decision the of RearSuspension the important interests than more of report interests the of the to According production people. againstconsidered who manager, the thefeelings the workers of the evidently turned GYML, X. 415/537/3, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/537/3, X. GYML, GYML,415/187/4, X. MSZMP Gy GYML,415/187/3, X. MSZMP Gy The base-cell reports formulated the problem even more sharply. The regulation more sharply. even problem formulated the reports The base-cell 377 Employees evidently manager’ the thought that decision againstwas anattack Ę Ę f f Ę Ę bb tendenciák, 1986. június. bb tendenciák, 1986. május. Ę l, 1986.l, május. Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. A lakossági r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. A lakossági 376 375 Another report Another 150 CEU eTD Collection 381 december. 1986. jelentése, információs Pártbizottságának 380 these issues!?” these decision about next the notice or of period instance: For the year’s workers. the concern really issues that the on holiday. Can’t This publicationwe is not atall newspaperthe recognize of theworkers. If it were theirs, it would report the socially damaging effects of az ÚjAcélöntödéb az 379 but alsomanager’s recognizebut respondit. failure the or to to any without use.Thecasepractical isindicative notonly changing of climate political the methods his leadership managerthe and reinforce to opposition to only thus succeeded changes the during year. the and overlooked was created managers the holiday ended with a compromise: in thebeginning of yearthe a“phantom holiday plan” unions”. of trade the representation and interest the government the of measures of the distrust is a wide there and tense, become has employees of the mood of the Wagon Factory. At the same time the regulation isatypical which fivedays, more than leave for on sick people whoare against sanction the with agree “We cannot criticized: strongly was also factory, the of newspaper collective”. holiday the interest of the individuals is not contradictory to the interest of the which the interestobviously violate of Our workers employees.inthink that caseof the the a SzerszámgépgyárPártalapszervezetét 378 András Dusza, op. cit., 12. GYML, X.415/187/5, MSZMP Gy GYML, X. 415/537/5, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/537/5, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/537/2, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/537/2, X. GYML, At the end of At endthe in 1986 agitators of “pessimism MVG that reported hasspread,the 378 With respect to the measure, the managerial censorship of censorship managerial the measure, to the respect With 379 Ę l, 1986. október. 1986. l, Ę l, 1986.l, június. Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai.A Vagongyár Rába newspaper received a lot of lotcriticism. of a received newspaper 380 The case of paid 381 The regulation Rába , the , 151 CEU eTD Collection the political mood of the information which reports, in party organizationsthe regularly population. tomonitor collected order The reports membershipare the valuablegrass-roots inthis of party.the Particularly respect sources nicely illustrate the processmountedAn industry. discontent alsoamong more serious the even was that warning of how the inlarge workers of of recruiting problems the reported regularly party organizations membership wasnot an existential forquestion them. the that showed, formulated, county the of secretary the as which, party, left the who among of high those politicalworkers issues. wasapercentage indifferentto There were andthey work, party neglected membership the that complained regularly functionaries reform: economic the after life organizational affected have to claimed was individualism class, working the party among the popularize to efforts the Despite party. the membership attending the losing recruitment, of meetings, ways anddiscipline the of party of methods and life: criteria the of party main characteristics describe the to order life canbewell inorganizational documented period. the archives, party surviving the to Thanks secretary. party full-time with a committees for such asRábahad theirown party large membership:workers the enterprises inoperated workplaces.the The party madeefforts significantwin to blue-collarthe economic lifemaintained social and wasalso through party the organizations, which the over party the of The control population. adult the of part a significant encompassed The decreasing appeal of the party became more visible in the 1980s, when when the 1980s, visiblemore became inthe party the of appeal The decreasing makes use The chapter in of factory of county the party the and the documents membership whose organizations, mass were parties ruling the regimes socialist In 4. TheParty and theWorkers 152 CEU eTD Collection napirendi anyagai. körében, 1982. február 9. február 1982. körében, 383 évi tagfelvételekr évi county 30,808county amounted to Throughout the little wasvery 1980s there fluctuation: in in1981the membership the population. The membership of Gy 11,1%of Hungarian the constituted thecountry, members across which 883,131 MSZMP) wasby a mass definition party andparty. aworkers’ In had party 1986, the Quotas socialism. democratic different, envisageda reforms the who supported ineven people politicalandthose Hungary, power lost itbefore long haddecreased itrepresented that system the and party the of attraction it the beindeedarguedthat can reports information the of light Inthe political reforms. membership.An increasing ever partof sympathized population the forwith call the the termination their of fell,peoplemoremore requested and and decreased), recruitment join themselves: youth of significantly refused to youth membership the organization (the situation. The party’s declinedauthority and the firstsigns of disintegration manifested andmany prospects, improvefuture thegovernment the to ability of questioned the population (includingmembership) party the reported was tobe pessimistic aboutthe believerefused to promises. infurther Inthesecond half of large 1980sa the partof the they and thestandard-of-living policy, failure the of people recognized political regime: the of criticism encompassing more a into developed people the of criticism economic 382 GYML, X. 415/32/10, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/32/10, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/186/4, MSZMP Gy The Hungarian Socialist Workers’ Party (Magyar Szocialista Munkáspárt = Munkáspárt Szocialista (Magyar Party Workers’ Socialist Hungarian The Ę l és a pártból való kikerülésekr való a pártból és l A párt tömegbefolyása, szervezettsége, a pártépít 383 and in it1983 numbered 30,800people. Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Tájékoztató az 1986. Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron r-Sopron county county innumbered r-Sopron 31,893 samethe year. Ę l. Ę munka tapasztalatai a munkások 384 In1984,afigure Ę könyve, 153 382 CEU eTD Collection 386 385 1983. április 5. napirendi anyagai. A pártonkívüliekkel folytatott beszélgetések tapasztalatai, javaslat a továbbifeladatokra, time to participate in the party meetings and ideological disagreement with the party with line participate party in timethe meetingsdisagreement ideological to and party the people that avoluntary gavefor pay refusal the lackwithdrawal were party the to dues, of left the party after only a short period ofmembership (65-70%). The most frequent reasons was very high who of workers blue-collar the those, inamong thepercentage statistics: the reflected was also Their lack of commitment quotas. recruiters tomeetthe pressureon the because of join party the needto the of wereconvincedonly workers many effect because workers, women and blue-collar for the wereset Quotas youth. future. in the “correct” to hadthey that those and These forms of affirmative filled party the that of organizations spoke freely quotas functionaries the enrollmentparty action hadvarious often a contradictory withindeemed of ahealthy workers organization blue-collarits the percentage through forms of affirmative action, typically quotas for recruitment. In reports of 31,000 people wasgivenfor membership the party the of in the county. on 384 majority of those who left the party during the period were also workers (70%). admittedworkers sinceworkers andforemen. The overwhelming 1975 wereskilled the of majority The factories). in the 20% 6and between varied percentages members (the of countymembershipthe were (40,2%) blue-collar workers.10% of all wereparty workers number of working-classthe membersparty increased onlyby 6%. In 1981 less half than 1975 and members numberof 1981the party county increased inthe by the 9% while between membership, in the workers the of percentage increase the to party effort of the A párt tömegbefolyása, szervezettsége, a pártépít szervezettsége, tömegbefolyása, Apárt László Tóth, op. cit., 70. GYML, X. 415/36/1, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/36/1, X. GYML, Since MSZMP was defined as a workers’ party, the party maintainit party what aimed to Since the party, asaworkers’ MSZMPwasdefined Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę munka tapasztalatai a munkások körében, op. cit. körében, amunkások tapasztalatai munka 385 Despite every Despite 386 Ę könyve, 154 CEU eTD Collection vitája’ cím 389 388 tájékoztató az 1985.évi tagfelvételek alakulásáról, 1986. március 4 party party duties (GYML,415/194/5, X. MSZMP Gy their fulfill to refusal their was withdrawal the for reason main The workers. blue-collar were terminated, participate in party 22%life and referred toold age and sickness. In1985, 70%of those, whose membership membership terminated,were blue-collarworkers. 28% referred to family (religion),reasons 20%could not view of particular issues, for instance, the question of wages and the setting of It of of prices. setting the wages and question for the instance, issues, view of particular have adifferent workers but line political our agreewith general employees In party. the an area. I would even go further inof it enrolmentthe blue-collar of expresses workers that in of mood political the people to argue that it reflects their spoke fullyof problem the comrade out who haveof agree Gy., party,the I with dropped opinion about the policy of mobilization by referring to the material discontent of workers: “Concerning people who conclusions”. right the draw can they that so leadership party highest the to bluntly it say should we that level.think I desired to the activity increase the fails to work political Our weaker. masses became the to relationship our and masses decreased the activity of political the elections local andcouncil is after experience the parliamentary that contrary, the our Quite congress. successful the after expected we had that extent the to improve not did masses tagkönyvcsere munkálataival kapcsolatos számszer Congress Party Tenth after the that indicate should in people members: wasreflected “In decliningmy the activity political party of view we bad mood of argued thatthe increaseof political MVG Theparty secretary the prices. of was linked resultthe with reform, of the support which people decrease of working-class the that thought Many 1968. of reform economic the after functionaries party the among requirements of admission to the party were not so seriously enforced. commitment). religious meant usually (this 387 Feljegyzés ’A párt tömegkapcsolata, apártszervezetek éstömegszervezetek, tömegmozgalmak politikai The Tenth Congress of MSZMP was on held 23-28 November1970. GYML, X. 415/48/2, MSZMPGy 415/48/2, X. GYML, The declining percentage of working-class party members was a particular concern particular was a members party working-class of percentage The declining Ħ vita anyagáról, op. cit., 2. 389 The old party workers explained the declining force of political force of the declining explained workers The party old Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Jelentés a Jelentés iratai. Apparátus MegyeiBizottsága. r-Sopron Ę r-Sopron Megyei r-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Ħ adatokról,1976,július 6. 387 This shows that in many cases the cases many in that shows This 388 the relationship of the party with the with party the of relationship the . 70% of those, whose of those, 70% Szóbeli 155 CEU eTD Collection napirendi anyagai. Jelentés aVagongyári Pártbizottság párttaggá nevelési munkájáról. 1972. március 30. 391 napirendi anyagai. kikerültek összetételér which 105 (62,5%) areworkers”. which 105 (62,5%) of 170new membersout weadmitted of quarter In 1971 1972 and thefirst 1972: 62%). increase 61,5%, (1970: aslight showsonly workers newly admitted of percentage the successfulwas not membership, we succeededtoincrease Although enough. our the effort of the party leadership to increase the number of the blue-collar workers in the partyhappens that instead of the set quotas of consult members leaderswith the party That’s and party it of the why other groups. workers, they enrol white-collar employees.disciplinary Anotheraction against problem two. some is party that secretaries donot The whom in excludewe admitted 1969-1970, wehad to one,strike offfour and party take members new of becausethe out work candidates’ of the and supervision the patrons organization the problemsresponsibility are sometimes with the party).of the of There on the basis young eitherprimarily peoplefrom whoare army the discharged membership apply foror of These are volunteers. and part theira small only recruitment the initiates that organization work “In local building majority case the of organizations: newmembersthe isof it party the in KISZ Therecruitment. party of organization Rába MVG frankly reported on problemsthe of (Kommunista Ifjúságianswer”. we asked party Suppose inmembers five MVG, out of givenot ten would aright Szövetségcandidates forthe theprepare we When other’. enrolment, the to = work-bench one from ‘go who the workers, to livelihood I am not sureyouth that they know their amatter membership isnot of Party of mood people. thelocal political influences obligations to the party. 390 GYML, X. 415/124/14, MSZMP Gy GYML, X. 415/117/8, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/117/8, X. GYML, The social material and of undoubtedlydiscontent workers the influenced 390 Jelentés a 10. kongresszus óta felvett párttagok szociális összetételér Ę l és okairól, 9, 1971. október13. 391 Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz Ę l, valamint a pártból Ę Ę könyve, könyve, 156 CEU eTD Collection 4. napirendi anyagai. 394 jelentések a kül- és belpolitikai eseményekr belpolitikai és kül- a jelentések 393 napirendi anyagai. tevékenységér there is a decrease mainly in the cities of Gy contrary, members; the on among newly admitted the of workers the percentage increasing in of quotas under-fulfilment most important the succeed in county: “We the didnot influence”. rid of this classes and regularly participate in church programs. We should be more consequent to get “In county our arearoundthere 500party members whosend Bible- theirto children strong in urgedAn information county.the the purgeof report members: religious party only only tobemembers partyinthe want of hope of the advantages”. certain town the to villages from movedthe who manythose of isthat problem further A reason. influencenot thenew admissions: many bepeople rejected hadto in justfor town the this beginningthe of 1980s:the “Religiousness is still widespread in villages.This the could intelligentsia”. the of enrolment the encourage often they and majority, the constitute intellectuals win and moreto are difficult workers blue-collar they the isthat experience industrial Our incounty. an leave percentage of the among workers thelower,the newmembers whichissignificant is 0,5% but the average national the than sooner county inthe quotas enrolment the partyfulfilled “We too: more easily. In the enterprise party committees the 392 large membersWe newly of inthenineteen areemployed county). admitted enterprises the (25-28% of bemajority the workers a would in large enterprises, newthe admissions GYML, MSZMP X.415/156/2/4, Gy GYML,415/132/54, MSZMP X. Gy GYML, X. 415/4/31, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/4/31, X. GYML, The summary report of the new admissions in 1983 also complained about the about alsocomplained in1983 of newadmissions the The summary report The low percentage of working-class party members was criticised at county level, county was members of criticised at The lowworking-class percentage party Ę l. 1975. november 26. november 1975. l. 392 Tájékoztató az 1984. 1. félévi tagfelvételek összetételének alakulásáról. 1984. szeptember 1984. alakulásáról. összetételének tagfelvételek félévi 1. 1984. az Tájékoztató A further problem was religious commitment, which was reported to be which Afurtherto wasreported problem commitment, religious A Gy 393 Ę r városir VB jelentése az üzemi pártbizottságok alapszervezeteket irányító Religious commitment was an obstacle to recruitment as late as Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Apparátus Bizottsága. iratai. Havi összefoglaló Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-SopronBizottsága. Pártbizottsági jegyz ülés l, a lakosság hangulatáról, 3. 1973. február 3. 1973. hangulatáról, lakosság a l, Ę r and Sopron. We could notensure that of the 394 . Ę Ę könyve, könyve, 157 CEU eTD Collection cit., 1978; Lajos Héthy, op. cit., 1979. gazdaságirányító és -ellen és gazdaságirányító funkcióinak kapcsolata’, 397 napirendi anyagai. munkáról, a párt összetételének alakulásáról, a további feladatokról a megyében. 1983. október 4. október 1983. megyében. a feladatokról a további 396 alakulásáról, összetételének a párt munkáról, napirendi anyagai. of the base-cells citywide. The seven large enterprises employed 33,000 people, and 77% and 33,000people, employed large enterprises seven The of citywide. base-cells the membershipparty of city.the The had80base-cells, enterprises half around numberthe of enterprisethe 37,14%of people, party organizations numbered4,300 the which constituted Gy of city the In party. the of base social traditional was the large enterprises of class working the because the sign negative increase but itrathershowed thepastyears adecreasing trendin of the requirements, drop-outs“ were workers or peasants of the leavingfailed of county theparty: toreduce percentage workers the also the nearly 80% of collective farms. The report stated in The enrolment. their time of only originallyat the production 44,4% worked workers, that in spite in3,4% county. the 10,7%. Theratiobetweenfrom of age-group the 12,4 to from 18 and26decreased 5,9 to it while to8,9%, decreased from nationally membership 12,3 party decreased of county the members mainlynew the among youth of majority two-third the in and workers the of themajority significant cities of Gy organizations(belowyears thirty). –because In past the of weaknessof the leadership of the party the and the – hardlycouldnot or hit thattwo thirds – target the of beyoung newmembers the people political education of the base-cells – we could not ensure the 395 (Hungarian (Hungarian Railways)and bus VOLÁN (state company). Construction Works, Richards Cloth Factory, Cotton Mill, Textile Industry, MÁV GYML, X. 415/37, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/37, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/37, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/37, X. GYML, On the role of enterprise party organizations see e.g. József Balogh, ’A vállalat gazdasági és politikai és gazdasági vállalat ’A Balogh, József seee.g. organizations party ofenterprise role the On The decrease of the new admissions in the large enterprises wasaparticularly enterprises large inthe admissions new of the The decrease Jelentés a tagfelvételi munkáról. 1983. december 13. Stress is mine. is Stress 13. december 1983. munkáról. a tagfelvételi Jelentés Jelentés az MSZMP Politikai Bizottsága 1983. jún. 21-i határozata alapján atagfelvételi 395 Társadalmi Szemle Ę the number of the new the number of admissions inthelarge enterprises didnot rz Even though 73,8% of the party Even members party though 73,8% of enrolledthe in 1983 were Ę munkájáról’, Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę r there were seven enterprise party committees: MVG, committees: party enterprise seven were r there Ę Társadalmi Szemle , 32, no. 12 (1977), 12 , 32,no. 67-70;SándorBorbély, pártszervezetek ’A r and Sopron”. The percentage of youth among the , 31, 3-16;no. 6(1976), Pálné Vitkovics,op. 397 In membership1975, the of ”. 396 Ę Ę könyve, könyve, 158 CEU eTD Collection 401 1979 között. MVG gy napirendi anyagai. 400 399 membership”. they their resigned defend number Many thenotthat of peopledrop-outs. thought party did them, therefore within dismissals theenterprise, conflicts aboutthe the andincreased the wage the disputes nohave only‘after time for gotsettled’. political work, they labor reorganization The of buildingfree of housetakesupmuchof theirthe thatthey environmentaccepts time. Their admitted to the party.difficult towinMany over young workers: “It is a problemof thatfew youngthem skilled workers are are commuters, after their marriage the family, the workers was 15%. The workers still constituted a majority among the party members: 64% blue-collar of party amongmembersmembers party thepercentage while thethe of the were admitted to fill the ranks of the party: in 1983, 17% of the employees of MVG were withdrawal). voluntary or exclusion death, retirement, workplace, of change the been have could reasons be members(the ceased to left:membersbetween it 6,412new who 1980, whileadmitted 1975 and members, 9,573 its of replace those not could The party organization period). the during increased county party organization of MVG numbered only 1,786 people (while themembership of the men. members party were the of (86%) majority people. overwhelming The secretary. In1975 partythe membership of in itsMVG Gy large other inthe enterprises between variedtown at 6 andfull-time11) and party a of six the base-cells 28base-cells (the ithad In1975 party organization. ithad largest the in working largeenterprises. classworked the local majority of overwhelmingthe the This that meant workers. blue-collar of were them 398 A párt tömegbefolyása, szervezettsége, a pártépít szervezettsége, tömegbefolyása, Apárt GYML, X. 415/25/13, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/25/13, X. GYML, Ibid., melléklet. AGy Ę r városi VB jelentése az üzemi pártbizottságok alapszervezeteket irányító tevékenységér irányító alapszervezeteket pártbizottságok üzemi az VB jelentése városi r Kimutatás a megye területénlév Ę ri telephelyénri be-és kilép 401 Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron There is some evidence that white-collar employees white-collar is that There evidence some Ę k száma.1980. március 14. Ę 400 Ę munka tapasztalatai a munkások körében, op. cit. körében, amunkások tapasztalatai munka nagyvállalatok párttagfelvételének alakulásáról 1975- The party organization admitted that itwas that admitted organization Theparty 398 Since MVG was the largest one of them, Ę r plants numbered 1,965 399 In 1983, the Ę l, op. cit. op. l, Ę könyve, 159 CEU eTD Collection 406 Bizottság 1983. december13-i határozata alapján, 1988.február 23. napirendi anyagai. 405 404 MVG, theTextileIndustryFactory, Graboplast,RábaMMG. the of county. inthe largeenterprises of organizations party who were enrolled. In spite of our efforts ceasedtobemembers Moreworkers party the than requirements. of accordingthe those to we could not significantly improve “The did from of continually enrolmentworkers notincrease the decreased 1983. the building new of number admissions. the andadecreasing deaths resignations, forwere this main reasons The inthecountry. 0,5% party. In 1980, therate increaseof in was1,8%, 1982,1,5%,in and1984, 1% in 1986, were less and less observed. This was paralleled by the decreasing rate of expansion of the 10% around among party the members. of membershipthe belonged the to working class.The percentage youthof (below 30)was 403 2. jegyz 402 indifference of the party members and their failure to set an example to people”. setan to to example failure and members their party the of indifference the basecells, the of weakness the places in some problems, socio-economic toour related despite the quotas crumble. social basis the quotas party the despite of traditional to the started membership1986 they only constituted party the country.the 42% of in by 6% and among newmembersdecreased the workers ofthe percentage andthe 1986 1980 between theworkers: of in percentage the likewise a decrease showed national data Tájékoztató az 1986. évi tagfelvételekr évi 1986. az Tájékoztató GYML, X. 415/224/4, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/224/4, X. GYML, is mine. Stress Tájékoztató az 1986. évi tagfelvételekr évi 1986. az Tájékoztató GYML,X. 415/532/2/2, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai,Pártbizottsági ülés Ę könyve. Tájékoztató az 1983. évi párttaggá nevelés, a párttag felvételek tapasztalatairól, 1984. február 1984. tapasztalatairól, felvételek a párttag nevelés, párttaggá évi 1983. az Tájékoztató könyve. In the second half of the 1980s policies of affirmative action in favor of workers Szóbeli tájékoztató az 1987. évi tagfelvételek alakulásáról aMegyei Párt-végrehajtó 403 Ę Ę Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron l és a pártból való kikerülésekr való és apártból l l és a pártból való kikerülésekr való és apártból l In the county the number of the new admissions 402 New admissions decreasedin New Ę Ę l, op. cit. l, l, op. cit. l, 404 The reasons closely are reasons The 406 This shows that shows This Ę 405 könyve, The 160 CEU eTD Collection women in the party committees of the county increased from 20%.A inwomen from of look party closer the county increased the 10-12 to committees hozott határozata végrehajtásának tapasztalatairól, op. cit., 2. 409 be slow”. unreasonably leadersto women theirleading skills and competence. We preparation the consider and employmentof bemanyimprove of help amatter no Inthese fields to considered statistics. get women to is of engagement the women that eventoday experience frequent isit a organizations, and social state party, women in the of percentage the of theincrease of spite “In field. in every rights equal of policy the assert to needed was effort more women, of membershardly 10%. reached party women the of percentage Volán the MÁVand In women. were committee party the party the was only committee In theCotton 50%. Mill, membership 35%of the and30%of members women of of percentage butthe werewomen members Factory party 60% of the laggedcommittees behindin also “female”traditional industries: in Richards Cloth committee only they membershipin1975.Outof 41members the 14% of constituted party the the of of MVGsignificantly lagged behind men.the onlyleaders and members party female of number the industries 5 in traditional that show were women. of inmid-1970sinstatistics party party.thethe of largeenterprises the county the The The and the leadership. The improvementpercentage of the situation of women was on the political agenda of womenOrganizing women in the party 408 op. cit.,2004. (1976), 40-50. Fora study of working womenin Hungary see: Éva Fodor, op.cit., 2003; EszterZsófia Tóth, n ‘A Ferge, Zsuzsa see: literature contemporary meant double the equal workdivisionof laborproved to be more difficultfor to realize within the family,the in practice this often women407 in the workplace and in the “second shift” of the household. From the Tájékoztató a KB 18-19-i,1970. február an AGy Full female employment was strongly supported by the party as a means of female emancipation. Since Ę A of foundreport 1973 that even improvementsthough were there in situation the There were special quotas used to increase the percentage of women intheparty women of percentage increasethe usedto quotas special There were r városi VB jelentése az üzemi pártbizottságok alapszervezeteket irányító tevékenységér irányító alapszervezeteket pártbizottságok üzemi az VB jelentése városi r 408 407 In MVG, 25% of the employees were women while Ę k a munkában és a családban’, és a munkában a k Ę k politikai, gazdasági ésszociális helyzete megjavítására 409 According to the report, of percentage the report, the According to Társadalmi Szemle Társadalmi Ę l, op. cit. op. l, , 31, no. 6 161 CEU eTD Collection cannot lead any cannot between members to of the party.the This distinction distinction renders their butthis tosituation their shouldwork party adjust considered individuallyandwe communist education women.of We agree thethat situation special of shouldwomen be the mobilization and thepolitical this we renounce because with party the harm much to menopinion party the that measures for uses This and women. double opinion causes the meet can often we today “Even disadvantaged: because were often they workers women among recruitment on their efforts concentrate to had organizations party the that 20%. from 5-8 to increased their percentage party schools: at female students numberthe increase to initiative wasan There education. political necessary whohadthe membership, for candidates enough women not were there that problem was afurther It leaders. of the among in (with and councils the KISZ),of apparatus apparatuses exception the the inthe party percentage of women low stated wasa there that report women”. The requirements for women than for men, and they sometimes only look for higher excuses set to reject frequently they in practice years, previous the in than bodies leading less misogynistopen and remarks backwardopinions mainly among the leadersand the bias continued to exista certain that showed report inthe comments The in county. against the workers party full-time women leaders in of the 17,2% only constituted women time, same Atthe were women. Front the People’s the county: “Even though Tanácsawe can = County meetCouncil of the Trade Unions) and 32% of Megyei KISZ,membersthe40% of communities. 43%of (Szakszervezetek the of SZMT municipal committees of local in in work involved directly organizations on focused mainly activity their at the statistics shows, however, that women occupied the low-level leading positions, and 410 Ibid., 4-5. 410 Concerning the construction of party organization among report women, argued the 162 CEU eTD Collection the percentagethe of women in the new wasadmissions 40%between 1983 and1986 andit 1980 and of 250newthe members 1983:out 50werewomen. number of number of comprehensive schools of increase the from the some results Weexpect in interested trades. fashionable are fields after they finished training. Even today itisa problem thethat girls and their parents jobs case,andeven foringo totraining look worst onlyin schools other then they the to allowMany their daughters parents of choice profession. the influence negatively that men women both among and attitudes still are there arethefollowing: reasons much. The change didnot but their among increased percentage number women of workers skilled the the workers of the county winsought to skilledthe of industrialthe core were class,working 35,8% of though while even women, only 16,5% of them were skilled workers. “The 414 hozott határozata végrehajtásának tapasztalatairól, op. cit., 18. conservatism of theirhusbands, their relatives, and theirhousehold duties”. the circumstances, family the in often is reason The average. the than lower is horizon intellectual and knowledge political their that fact the with explained partly be can women passive the of majority the of behavior The enterprise. the of meetings the to women these invite even won’t often They affairs’. in public interested not are ‘they or time’ no ‘have women of number a significant that accept simply organizations mass and party women. many the In places indifferent politically still manypassive, are women there that many women timid and indifferent. It reveals the weakness of our political work among 413 412 411 Tájékoztató az 1983. évi párttaggá nevelés, a párttag felvételek tapasztalatairól, op. cit. tapasztalatairól, felvételek a párttag nevelés, párttaggá évi 1983. az Tájékoztató Tájékoztató a KB 18-19-i,1970. február an certificate. school ahigh gave also schools Comprehensive Ibid., 7. In MVG the percentage of women slightly increased in the admissions between admissions inthe increased of slightly women In MVG percentage the Women workers had another disadvantage: their lack of skills. The party mainly 412 but wehave to waitfor their effect”. Ę k politikai, gazdasági ésszociális helyzete megjavítására 414 At the level of the county 413 411 163 CEU eTD Collection even increased to 42%even increased in to 1987. 416 határozata alapján, op. cit. 415 even went beyond to address more general problems with the building of socialism. exemplary communist conduct, the first secretary of the county stated bluntly that one had one that bluntly stated county the of secretary first the conduct, communist exemplary more optimistic than the comments activity in of membership meetingsthe orin these weregenerally general. The reports of the party officials. In the discussion of a report on Party life statistics. even though party the set quotasfor women,didchange attitudes not with together the biases against the political activity and role ofwomen continuedexist to in the county, and it of can concluded1973 bodies. traditional report be,leadingthe that From however, and Idid notget any” because itwon’t be solved anyway.Ialso hada tool was promisedproblem, I get to one comment that “in my view, every worker has his own problem but he would not speak of it people refrain didnot from speaking had of thatthey problems inproduction the (e.g. propaganda said commentsit. of Thequoted formerbrigadiersof the likewise suggestthat openly expressed hisdiscontent his with economic situationas to what opposed in critical mechanic,in contribution theintroduction, whichwasquoted whichhe of the their grievances in these meetings, and there was room for real debate. One example is voiced party members that the often suggest existingthe documents but base cellssurvived, to attend regularly,inat least InMVGfewminute books principle. of meetingsthe of the Jegyz Szóbeli tájékoztató az 1987. évi tagalakulásáról aMegyeiPárt-végrehajtó Bizottság 1983. december13-i Ę From From survivingthe itis, documents difficult of estimatecourse, to political the The forum The forum whichmemberswereobliged themeetings, party of were basecells the könyv a MotorPártalapszervezet 1977. január 26.-i taggy 416 ). As the contribution of the mechanic shows, criticism sometimes 415 There is no data about the percentage of women in the in women of percentage the about data no is There Ħ lésér Ę l, op.cit., l, 5-6. 164 CEU eTD Collection összetételér 419 discusses the activity of theactivity discusses partymembership, numberthe andof of party commissions the even if a committee of fifty-two people examined it. The other problem: the report workers of the importance of party work. What is written here does not agree with the facts them are workers.but youAt can thelook at thesame workers’ timemilitia, a meeting whichwe writethe of peoplethe executive have down to docommittee: after thatwork: in of side The the managersMVG took party of “It workers secretary the workers. andthe most is itdifficultof is todifficult engage the workers both of characteristic allegedly was Indifference members. party mobilizing of indifficulties partyto workconvince the of them are unable todo this”. majority the Unfortunately, hearing. atone tasks important very memorize down or write one third of the important membersin arguedthat to learned quarter one committee his only grass-roots the opinion central decisions. right”. all is everything that “The declare and satisfied all secretaries of the groundthe party’s standpoint. This questioncells does noteven come up in the factories and still havewe are to debate, party justmembersstand there defend open-mouthed standnot up and they to do a political it to comes When party questions. andpolitical to work theindifference express we can multiply it safely“We can experienceby five passivityand even also in thenthe lifethe movement of the wasunderminedmaterialism by spreadof and indifference: the party. we I don’tare wanttoo to argueoptimistic. about the 5%economic reform, hisNo moral criticismnumbers well expressed the view of thecan old party workers thatlookto for itwith a magnifying he glass. Although didnot his relate comments to under the party committee of Gy 417 magatartás, életmód helyzetér 418 Jelentés a 10.kongresszus óta felvett párttagok szociális összetételér The report states that the passive party members constitute 4-5% of the total membership that belongs AGy In the discussions there was much criticism of the formality of the party life and the Ę r városir Párt-végrehajtó Bizottság jelentése a pártszervezeti fegyelem, a kommunista munkamorál, Ę l és okairól, op. cit. Ę l, op. cit., 18-19. Ę r town(104r base cells with a membership of 9804 people). 419 418 A member of Amember executive the of Ę l, valamint apártból kikerültek 417 but 165 CEU eTD Collection 422 421 burdens of establishing an independent household. explain the inmore the relation lenientinequalities: social with functionariesgrowing indeed didparty reluctance of working-class youth to join the party through the increased magatartás, életmód helyzetér wealth rather than community life. than community wealth rather ininterested bemoretheir private materialistic, whoare to werereported commuters reform, economic the Since class. working urban the than developed less politically “villagepeople” were the that whothought functionaries, bias party the of peasant used explain from itmay wellhaveto theireducation, withdrawal adult theanti- expressed stay for the regular party meetings after they finishedmorea bit assertively”. work. Since wantto remain in not?Ithink party party the or theour counterthe workers that organizations same reasonyou do them: asks nobody busy, are they because was come don’t leaders the when time same the At workers. are them of sixty-seven and events, party the attend to failure their for off stroke were seventy-something Themajority them, of list. party membersoff the seven ninety- stroke butwewrite downthatwe policy my worker is hobby-horse thinkthe that not should You reality. the show not does 85% the that feeling a have I work. organization handsour if in membership 85% of party the actively participated party mass the and infoldWe it but people. couldhave 1,000 beonly peoplereality party could commissions 2,300 down that We were300participants. there reportthat still times,three put wewill there butif peoplewent same raceswith the participants foot 100-100 organized three We iswe it According declarethis likeratio of participants. to report the sport. that 420 Jelentés a KISZ munkájáról, op. cit., 1. Avidékr AGy Allegedly, it was more difficult to recruit commuters because they did not want to not did becausethey commuters recruit to moreit difficultwas Allegedly, Ę r városir Párt-végrehajtó Bizottság jelentése a pártszervezeti fegyelem, a kommunista munkamorál, Ę l bejáró dolgozóink helyzete, op. cit., 5. 420 Ę l, op. cit., 14-15. 421 In the 1980s, the criticism of materialism became materialism of criticism the 1980s, the In 422 166 CEU eTD Collection 426 425 there was less agreement between the party and the management: “We still need to develop needto “Westill management: the and party the between less agreement was there that indicated however, report, The party. the members of were mass organizations of the between massrelationship party the and was and the 50%of good leaders organizations the life. party improve significantly to authority the had he it in comrade canbe L that comradethe factory, simpleton that questioned wasnicknamed be solved. Theparty meetingshould groups hold a in month”.every they in are problems should there basecells, in Where meetings. the party the participate to likeapunishment looks “italmost that observed committee the One memberof of county. the committee inthe executive even adebate MVG triggered baseof cells of the isthis question solved of with appointmentthe comrade L”. that We think local comrades. the reproach to committee from town the sendcomrade a to hadWe life. party have regular did not that basecells were there that point the to declined tohim.indicated wasa there very in Unfortunately, weak leadership MVG. Things comradewe that K.can we thought madethat problem solve the when acompromise We even earlier. problem sawthe in we meetingsMVG party monthly the “Regarding lenience, wereparty there ingroups factory,the whichhad notmeet for months: their to thanks that It wasreported in respect. of MVGthis leadership the sharply criticized committees party enterprise of the leadership of the least report the at enforced; seriously so not likewise life were regular party of obligations the that There issome evidence heavy physical duringwork the day not always have did time for commonthe meetings. a demonstrated remarkable lenience whenitwasrecognized thatpeople performed who factory of the party committee the meetings, to thebrigade With met. respect actually 424 423 Information from the interviews with the workers of the factory. of the workers the with interviews the from Information Ibid. A szocialista munkaverseny és a brigádmunka fejlesztésének feladatai vállalatunknál, op. cit., 5. cit., op. AGy vállalatunknál, feladatai fejlesztésének brigádmunka a és munkaverseny szocialista A Ę The few surviving registers give no information about how often the base cells r városi VB jelentése az üzemi pártbizottságok alapszervezeteket irányító tevékenységér irányító alapszervezeteket pártbizottságok üzemi az VB jelentése városi r 426 In 1977it was reported that the 424 The monthly party meetings party monthly The 425 Given, however, Given, Ę l, op. cit. op. l, 167 423 CEU eTD Collection közhangulatot jellemz organizations, and their failure andorganizations, todo so their frequently voluntary motivated withdrawals. people from labor defense interests the that party expected the of massand the withmeasure. showthe to their inorder disagreement anddues party 1986, many union gavebackpeople their pay trade andcards union refused to trade the distribution of in premiums,introduced etc.): the case of regulation the of paid holiday of informationthe resignationreports was frequently a signof (wage disputes,protest the commitment), its policy or the policy of the factory (e.g. dismissals in MVG). According to could also express their disagreement with the ideology of the party (religious time for party life or havepeoplebut because theydidnot achange sometimes resigned after of place-of-work, they did not want to pay exclusion(through beingor off). struck Withdrawal happenedusually uponretirementor dues. With their withdrawalparty. One couldleave the party voluntarily (withdrawal) orupon the initiative of the party the workers joinpersuaded butto commitmentthe was strong not often enough keepthem into the an shows membership thatthe not existential was questionThey the workers. be could to Losing members work. preceded party it interest of the production perhaps becauseof – betweenand 1989–or Committee 1970 tasks”. production to the referring work neglectpolitical to managers.tend They the of leadingactivity political the tömegszervezetek pártirányításáról a Vagon gyáregység és az Irodák III pártalapszervezeteknél, 1977. május. 1977. 428 pártalapszervezeteknél, III Irodák és az gyáregység a Vagon pártirányításáról tömegszervezetek 427 GYML,415/187/2, X. MSZMP Gy GYML,415/195/1, X. MSZMP Vagon-ésMagyar Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Jelentés a The high of amongpercentage workers the who those walked of party the out Ę f Ę bb tendenciák, 1986. április. 427 Even though the manager of MVG was member of the Central Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. A lakossági 428 Such cases reveal Suchcases 168 CEU eTD Collection tapasztalatai, 5. 1980. november 28. november 1980. 5. tapasztalatai, napirendi anyagai. jegyz 432 431 cit. op. alapján, határozata 13-i december 430 retired had earlier lowvery often a income. Theparty due of 100 Ftcould, arguedthat problems of retired.the in Theaverage pension whobut factory was the those 3,000 Ft, financial the to responsive of MVG wasalso committee executive The complaint. justified me, becausethey wastooold”. increase told I years, there is one thing that hurts me that I tell you now. After I was 58, I did notget a pay untilwork his day lastwork inand farewelldinnerhe the heresaid “Iworked that for 45 very good a performed who a comrade of told secretary party MVG, the of committee reason”. due without offended them are life.Some of social and from political withdrawal complete indifferent,passive, islargely which understandable. thisjustify Of course, not does their of fromthem suffer health chronic problems bythe time they retire. They tired,grow were engaged in social full and political work struggles forof decades. Asignificant part for the withdrawal of high were the of andtheirA badparty health.dues 1985 gave report the following reasons retired people: “27,8% local party frequentorganizations. Themostreasons they that for theirgave withdrawal of the drop-outs arefinished retired; their many active of working When them they of in theeyes people. workplace with the connected was closely organization life, they were unwilling(27,4%). to continue politicalin nearlywere retired people, (27,8%) 1984 third one work in their significant whosegroup of membership those, In 1982, 23,3%of terminated. drop-outs the 429 GYML,X. 415/203/2/7, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai.Pártbizottsági ülés A pártból kikerülés elemzése és az abból adódó feladatok, op. cit., 5. Szóbeli tájékoztató az 1987. évi tagfelvételek alakulásáról aMegyei Párt-végrehajtó Bizottság 1983. GYML, MSZMP X.415/161/2/4, Gy Ę könyve. Many people decided to resign membership upon retirement, and they constituted a andthey membership resign Many retirement, decided to constituted upon people 431 430 But there were people who had a reason to be offended. In the executive the In offended. be to reason a had who people were there But The high percentage of the retired among the drop-outs shows that the party A párttagok körébenvégzett nevel politikai A pártból elemzése kikerülés és az abból adódó feladatok. Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-SopronBizottsága. Pártbizottsági jegyz ülés 432 The secretary added that this was a Ę munka ésapárttagokkalmunka való foglalkozás 429 andin thesame1987 almost 1985. június 28. Ę könyve, 169 CEU eTD Collection munka tapasztalatai a Rába MMG-ben. 1984. május 3. Mez 415/529/1/2, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. AMosonmagyaróvári who was wife, also his a member and Works of Water the party,of the was discussed organization base the of also in the partysecretary party of the organization immigration the of Rábainstance, MMG. for GYML, X. 436 cit. op. alapján, határozata 13-i december 435 légkör ellégkör from party. from the excluded were also West tothe emigrated Thosewho etc.). collective, the property of the from by repeatedly stealing community offended the (e.g. criminal offences, committing membership. Exclusion was usedasif a punishment a party member seriously and people refused of Areasonpolitical for work. resignation had be to given-even though by many 1987 to weakness the therefore reflected also amongdrop-outs the workers the of high percentage give a reason.because it was usually a direct sign of disagreementyou stay, how many pieces you do, etc”. or discontent with nobody him asked if he andhis family were well.The questions is “howasked long only its policies. The Bridge Unit,member aparty whohad there worked for 18years during that noted time this Rear the In leaders. the from experienced they that attention of lack the about complain indeedparty burden committee, budget. their jegyz 434 433 right to argue that the managers could find better reasons to miss the party meetings than meetings miss party the to reasons better find managers could the that argue to right the members could be, inlife party and didnot pay partythe of weredues struck off. The judgment of activitythe of course, subjective. whoregularly attendmemberparticipateparty party the meetings, –those, didnot didnot The party secretary of MVG was probably The immigration of the leaders caused an even greater loss of prestige Szóbeli tájékoztatóto theaz 1987. évi tagfelvételekparty. alakulásáról In aMegyei Mosonmagyaróvár, Párt-végrehajtó Bizottság 1983. GYML,X. 415/203/2/5, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai.Pártbizottsági ülés Ibid., 6. Ę Ę gazdasági Gépgyár(MMG) pártbizottsági ülésének jegyz könyve. The withdrawal of the active workers was an even more sensitive loss to the party the loss to more sensitive wasan even active workers the of The withdrawal Ę segítésére,4. 1980. május 22. Az emberi kapcsolatok alakulásának tapasztalatai. Politikai feladatok a zavartalan munkahelyi 436 There was a less drastic way to leave the party: to become an inactive become an to leave theparty: to way less drastic a Therewas 435 The party could also initiate the termination of termination the initiate also could Theparty 434 433 The grass-roots members would also Ę könyve. A párttaggá nevelés és a pártépít 170 Ę CEU eTD Collection tapasztalatai. 1977. január 26. jegyz 442 441 napirendi anyagai. defensive attitude can be observed in the documents. The party aimed to keep rather keep rather than to Theparty aimedin canbe documents. the observed defensive attitude bewould toassumethattheparty wrong exclusions: the from 1980sa the encouraged party. the out of drops and thus place, newworking the of organization party the transfer to exchange for theirfinancial support. often expected their children into marry church christeningand to their in grandchildren flexibilitymorein of 1984 noted that villages issues:areport theparents on religious the 440 439 cit. 438 workplace. their failure to ask for a transfer to the relevant party organizations upon changing their without hesitation that he does not have time”. fearwhite with tosee why manager him. secretary wants the the Today would answer a manager totalksecretary to in wanted manager askedhim his and the wouldroom, grow “In pastwhentheparty the expenseincreasedorganization: of party atthe management meet the party party requirements. meet the of them explained itfamilythrough and reasons, religious and14,3%said that they cannot from in party the 20,2% county. the county. 1980and 1984,699people withdrew Between 192 membersfrom off withdrew party,the 150werestruck and 52wereexcluded inthe magatartás, életmód helyzetér the workers. 437 GYML,415/195/1, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Pártbizottsági ülés Szóbeli tájékoztató az 1985. évi tagfelvételek alakulásáról, op. cit. GYML, X. 415/237, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/237, X. GYML, Szóbeli tájékoztató az 1985. évi tagfelvételek alakulásáról, op. cit. Apárttagok körébenvégzett politikai nevel AGy Ę könyve, napirendi anyagai. 442 People were mainly struck off because of the negligence of organizational lifeor of organizational negligence off of because the struck mainly were People The statistics suggest that the party rarely resorted to purging its members.its topurging In1985, party the that The statisticsresorted rarely suggest Ę This suggests that the workplace was often central to the organization of people. It r városir Párt-végrehajtó Bizottság jelentése a pártszervezeti fegyelem, a kommunista munkamorál, 441 437 Itwasmentioned inareport thatpartof 1977 of peoplethe not would The party reports of MVG likewise complained that the weight of the Tájékoztató az 1983-as pártfegyelmi eljárásokról. 1984. március 5. Ę l, op. cit. 439 There is some evidence that at that time the party showed timetheparty at that that is evidence some There A tagkönyvcserével kapcsolatos elbeszélgetések és taggy elbeszélgetések kapcsolatos A tagkönyvcserével Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron 440 Ę munka ésa munka párttagokkal való foglalkozás tapasztalatai, op. 438 Ę könyve, Ħ lések 171 CEU eTD Collection comments; the investigation, however, stated that she denounced him out of revenge. out him denounced she that stated however, investigation, the comments; 445 bejelentések,panaszok, 1975. 444 exclusion: it 25,9% excludedamounted exclusion: of 6%were to punishments. the because of lifefrequentreason for secondmostprivate socialist wasthe property. against Indecent workers more assertively.) More than one third (35,7%) were excluded because of offences in from that party theis itorganizations the county countered the party the (so perhaps true Between members1980 and1984,268party wereexcluded (among them 180 workers) byjealous partners. party the denunciationscommittee to led often to in turn, This, reprimand. strong a risked also Adulterers relations. -settled life and family andpromoted – party also respected reprimand. The astrong andreceived secretary was investigated the badvery introduction very in and it negative responses triggered village”. the that he vomited through meeting so drunkafter acouncil “got farm of a collective secretary new the party that party the window of the building was, for instance,warning tothe beingexcluded andthey risked party.the from It reported of the party committee.exclusion from to party.the People publicthe whooutraged behavior with their receiveda This was a leadbelikely punishedlife offencescould also reprimand,these a strong with to but were family andunorganized an life. conduct Improper reinforce than organizational rather to proceedings suggest that the main aim was maintainto the moral respectability of the party for reasons looked party toexcludeorganizations orstrike off members.party membership.20% decline of the The almost balance party groups. an wasstill members,other from new22 arrived and 49 admitted organization died. The excluded, 7people and struck 9 withdrew,3were off, from reduced 411 people.502 to 123weretransferred party to other organizations, 20were itsloseandmembership 1983theparty members.Between MMG 1979 of Rába was 443 Ibid.A woman, for instance, denounced divorced her husband (aparty formaking anti-partymember) GYML,415/47/36, X. MSZMP Gy A párttaggá nevelés és a pártépít és a nevelés Apárttaggá The less strict form of punishment was the party reprimand. The party disciplinary party The reprimand. party the was punishment of form strict less The Ę munka tapasztalatai a Rába MMG-ben, op. cit. op. MMG-ben, aRába tapasztalatai munka Ę 443 r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Dolgozók által tett With a shrinking membership, it is unlikely that the that unlikely is it membership, ashrinking With 444 Thecase 172 445 CEU eTD Collection 1983. április 5. napirendi anyagai. A pártonkívüliekkel folytatott beszélgetések tapasztalatai, javaslat a továbbifeladatokra. 449 augusztus 15. napirendi anyagai. 448 1985. október16. Bizottság 1983. június 21-i ésa Megyei Párt-végrehajtó Bizottság 1983. december13-i határozata alapján. napirendi anyagai. discrimination against the members of the party. With the increasing economic problems economic increasing With the party. of the members the against discrimination In secondthe half 1980sinthe of party reports fact complainedinstances of of Others refused tostate their opinion saying that they wouldnotconsider it all the same”. properly. Some people saidno that one asked them when they spoilt living. standardthe of work daily their do can’t who those, to talk not would they “that basis the on members party with political discussion membersrejected party not the of were whoIn 1983people to work and only half of them thought that in and attitude non-Marxists their Marxists the between wasadifference there thought that there was a difference in political opinions.a to survey 1972 conductedwithinof the county membership, a tiny minority (3,3%) notin itself enough to win social respect. This was true alsofor the membership: according effective. offences socialistagainst property, political education in sensewasnotthis always demonstration of religiousand 3% for theircommitment, failure to meet participationnegligence of party 5,3%forduties, causing 4,5%forthe accidents, violatinglabor discipline ideological requirements in church of theceremonies, party (this meant etc.). the cit.; 447 446 disgrace tothe party with theirbehavior. bring not could they that so candidates the of character moral the consider to warned werefrequently life.The referees family regarding rules conduct of “bourgeois” the party moral overwatched the anditevidently of adheredrespectability membership, the to GYML, X. 415/36, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/36, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/122/6, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/122/6, X. GYML, Apárttagok körébenvégzett politikai nevel A pártból kikerülés elemzése és az abból adódó feladatok, op. cit. GYML, X. 415/161/2/5, MSZMP Gy MSZMP 415/161/2/5, X. GYML, Even though the party moral Even strove for member party though beingthe aparty was respectability, Jelentés a párttagság körébenvégzett ideológiai nevel A párttaggá nevel A párttaggá Ę munka tapasztalatai a munkások és az ifjúság körében a Politikai a körében ifjúság és az amunkások tapasztalatai munka Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę r-Sopron Megyei Bizottsága. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz ülés Pártbizottsági Bizottsága. Megyei r-Sopron Ę munka ésa munka párttagokkal való foglalkozás tapasztalatai, op. 447 Since most of forof memberswereexcluded the most Since Ę munkáról,1-5. melléklet Ę Ę Ę 446 könyve, könyve, könyve, . 1972. The 173 449 448 CEU eTD Collection közhangulatot jellemz economic and social the of questions” “general the on reported critically latter be the issues improved, local hadto that mainly addressed while former this the respect: is worth comparing the reports of the early 1970s with those of the late 1970s and 1980s in formulated membership regime.for of It the mood grass-roots the deteriorating the political reflected they that criticism the functionaries, party low-level by written mostly were documentation of the mounting economic discontent of the population. Since the reports The failure ofthe standard-of-living policy of the political weakening of the regime. indicative was resignations of increase the party; the of policy the with themselves identify mistakes –this explains the numberhigh of withdrawals”. is not rewarding tobe a Communist. Many people refuse to take the responsibility for the 452 that had appeared between the party had people”. party appearedbetween the and the that if responsibilitygood leaderstook the forbad decisions their and removed thehair-cracks the done from machines. the economyarenot of plans andthecommand producers. the shiftonto responsibility to the leaders againwant the “people was reportedthatin that complained Factory leaders. of Tool Industrial the the It membership. party would People askwhythey had“pay” to theprice of badthe decisions whole blamed the party the members of were not who those while incompetence, with members chargedtheleaders grass-roots moreof thequestion raised people responsibility: more and wages), real stagnation of the and highinflation, prices, (increasing of 1980s the a SzerszámgépgyárPártalapszervezetét 451 450 GYML,X. 415/235, MSZMP Gy GYML, X. 415/537/2, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/537/2, X. GYML, is mine. Stress With the help of With helpinformation is give it of the possiblethe reports avery to good Ę f Ę bb tendenciák, Sopron, 1987. december. Ę l, 1986. l, május. Ę r-Sopron MegyeiBizottsága.Apparátus iratai. Alakossági 451 Another report noted that “today it “today that noted report Another 452 Ever more people refused to But themakingofthe 450 It would It be 174 CEU eTD Collection the lack of demands with bemodesty will replaced be inlong run, an –because the this alternative butcannot – which goes from itisby situation its membersif economic restraint the can society demanded expect together with sometimes Because of prices! increase the is not situation economic ‘more difficult’ ‘indifference’. this solve to key the that accept to have we importantly, more “But in politics: interest Indifference disappointment population of increase number the would havethe lostwho of those their can be an increase it1 kgof would paprika, unsolvable causeanalmost found problem.also They the of the pricenoproblem pay to higherthis pricebutfor anurban whohadworker, work to one hour for ofhave would self-employed the and peasants utilitiesthe that thought They car. a buy to afford not toofor a car for yearsmuch”. but with these pricesThey and thealso increase disagreed wage. of hourly thetheir from price asandwich buy with cannot they that of said theThey petrol much. too increasedefinitely they would of the prices of cars; meat of price of the increase found the they but items of the some with agreed theyprices. They said that they had saved of increase the with mainly concerned employees were weeks our “In thepast prices, too. their byincreasing increase the couldfor prices of in sector compensate worked private the who wealthierithitlivedmainlystrata unjustwages, while because other, who from those stressed measure however, the latethat wassocially The reports 1970s, of population. the government. the of credibility the undermined effectively factors these reports information lightof In the the party the propagated. that ideology tothe egalitarian asopposed again government’sthe and issue the secondwas promises, of inequalitiesthe material growing - to failure of policy, standard-of-livingbitterly experiencedthe asopposed which people development of the country. In particular two criticisms were stressed: the first was the 453 Információs jelentés a Vagon Fémipari Alapszervezett The increase of prices, understandably, never had a positive reception among the had apositive reception never understandably, prices, The increaseof Ę 453 l, 1979. május, op. cit. It was likewise pointed out that the that out pointed likewise was It 175 CEU eTD Collection a Szerszámgépgyár Pártalapszervezetét Szerszámgépgyár a 457 Kovács II.üzem MSZMP alapszervezetének taggy 456 az Új Acélöntödéb 455 almost incurable disease of society”. of disease incurable almost a Kovács Pártalapszervezett Kovács a 454 work is work here”. aissue secondary everything. Political just to nod even here.argue, They people thinkdon’t the this iswhat itA makes head, believeshastired that awise andthe youth nostill tongue perspective. of the blue-collar workers butit is also characteristic of the managers. The older people are important for them is economic work: this is what they want to dowell.This is the opinion among people. Nothing interested makes in them community Theand socialist work. most of meeting base-cell the on22 “Indifference of forge-shop isspreading the February 1978: efficiently”. economic haveour areconvinced welland they that They worked difficulties. always only mistakesthe together with discontentedthe people. Theyblame thehigherleaders for emphasize they that means ‘agitation’ economic Their policy. economic our of objectives many understand mood and membersforemen party not that production the do and our of influences political “It the membership: party the waswidespreadamong dissatisfaction political school political school be– to themselves convinced bysomebody else”. criticized Industrial–even in finished expect amongthe thosewho Unit: “Many a Tool recognition thattheparty to thepeople. toofferrecognition had nothing else standard-of-living hadbecome policy in evident already thelate 1970s, parallel with the the failure of the that mechanic, revealed the of contribution quoted the to similarly GYML, X. 415/199/12, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML,415/199/28, X. MSZMP Vagon-ésMagyar Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Jegyz GYML, X. 415/202/32, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML, X. 415/199/28, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés 455 That not anisolated this phenomenon issupportedby minutewas books the Ę l, 1979. május. l, Ę l. 1979. szeptember. 1979. l. Ę l, 1979. február. 1979. l, 456 The passivity of the party members was likewise 454 Another informant put it bluntly that economic that bluntly it put informant Another Ħ lésér Ę l. 1978.l. február 22. 457 The comments, The Ę könyv a 176 CEU eTD Collection az Új Acélöntödéb 463 461 460 the 1970s, the themselves donotthinkitseriously”. leaders, livingwe can opinion,standard of our whodeclare even that of today the preserve believe economicthe “In people to our temporary: problems that wereonly refused traders”. for private higher profits consumersand the goodsincreased, Ft.Thebig for500-800,000 means numberof problem shortage which a insecurity. Those who live of a climate living reinforce of standard andthe of high increaseof prices stagnation the from their wages will never unduly only.antipathy The triggers sparing unreasonable spare reasonably but necessary to afford to buy a flat, changeswhich costs of the unfavorable the that world worker a ‘simple’ for bear to difficult more even and understand economyto difficult is “It countries. socialist the influence havenot would crisis oil the that declared reached us, too. hadpreviously media when the particularly believe explanations, economic the refused to The workers don’ deny that it is petrol price of the increase they employees ask” our year, yearfrom to is worse getting foreign the trade many of them,that too, suggested comments sharedinformants’ the and media, socialist the these of credibility the about doubts, for instance the question 1980s. the morethroughout itself often of “why the balance of az Új Acélöntödéb 462 Pártalapszervezetét Szerelde a 459 (Budapest:Pénzügykutatási Intézet Kiadványai, no. 2, 1986). studied the evaluationof VGMK among the workers. Erzsébet Szalai, 458 in the world market makes worried”. one marketin world the GYML, X. 415/206/28, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs jelentés a T. M. K. Pártalapszervezett original. inthe is Stress GYML, X. 415/206/28, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML, X. 415/206/12, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés This statement is supported by findingsthe of the oral history projectof Erzsébet Szalai. The author Direct political criticism, which used to be a rare phenomenon, also manifested also phenomenon, a rare be to used which criticism, political Direct Ę Ę l, 1980. március.l, l, 1980.l, július. Ę l, 1980. február. 1980. l, ? 460 Officially nothing is said but the increase of the price the of increase the but is said nothing Officially 458 461 People openly started toexpress theirdoubts People openlystarted Ę The comments likewise revealed that people that revealed likewise comments The l, 1979. május, op. cit. 463 462 Informants clearly expressed that expressed clearly Informants Beszélgetések a gazdasági reformról agazdasági Beszélgetések 459 , or that of “will 177 CEU eTD Collection report!” information acceptanceof I requestthe our earlier) changed,either.havenot reported positivein change so prices the thepeople’sand transport (whichwehaveopinions no is “There reports: “nuanced” more write to refused consciously often Informants in sector. private the worked who those and high functionaries the managers, were the eyes, in their beneficiaries, real the state; the of policy economic the of beneficiaries the increased among the workers. They found it ever more ridiculous to believe that they were of socialistideology. In the light of the information reports skepticism towards the regime propagation limited the to socialism”was “building of the that revealed also they envy but inwhothose worked Growing sector. material inequalities private the not only did trigger of control incomes couldnot the state the reduce expenditureswhile to attempt state’s the Throughoutthesector. 1980sitwas frequently stressedmain that they the loserswere of affected which livedsocial industrial state the from the largest class asthe working group, az Új Acélöntödéb 464 things about them because the circumstances have not changed; or better to say, they have they say, to better or changed; not have circumstances the because them about things write new We living. cannot of standard of the and “preservation” the transport goods, consumers’ with prices, provision the increase of the are These people. really concern things aboutthe we (and that forge can onlywrite reports wecertainly want the to don’t), complaints and provision aboutthe with If goods publicwe donot consumers’ transport. according tothe given criteria. Itwas often criticized that information reports are limited to however, difficult orimpossible to satisfy these demands if people fail to react to events is,informationof we received It instructions thestructure concerning many reports. GYML, X. 415/211/38, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés An even stronger argument was that failure of the standard-of-living policy mainly policy standard-of-living the of failure that was argument stronger even An 464 The informant elaborated his position in another report: “In his courses thetraining report: inelaborated position another Theinformant Ę l, 1982.l, február. 178 CEU eTD Collection 468 467 a TechnológiaPártalapszervezetét 466 newspapers andthe TValways talk about the savings of people,howmuchthe they The announcement. ant without changed have prices that complain They living. of standard atprospered important theiris “The topic expense: most among invariably the workers the make –as of country while others the ininterestto they expected - sacrifices perceived the understandpessimism people among waswidespread the workers: why didnot they were information report!” our acceptance of the fuel. request price after of the I theincrease deteriorated az Új Acélöntödéb 465 of measures”. of these understand necessity the They refuse to of increases. price satisfied with the reasoning the not are “They factory: in the earned they that wages the on rely only could they because workingindustrial most class the urban hit increaseof prices the the argued that members living. their earn to workers industrial for difficult more work?” honest with money their earned them of many how and increased, have savings Whose thepriceincreases. bank increased,despite have savings inthe OTP the people the of reportof the the According to many of unfortunately. are them, –and there speculators to the not andlivefrom work people the wagesand whotheir onlyto living. This applies theirstandard a declineof majority employeesthe prices, of so the experience gradual of the of increase the to proportionate not are increases pay “The discontent: social mounting with that of the wealthier social strata. Such comparisons evidently reflected the workers’ Jegyz Ibid. jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/211/4, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/211/38, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Ę 466 According to the reports, workers often directly contrasted their economic situation their economic contrasted directly often workers reports, the to According könyv a Szerszámgépgyár Egység Pártalapszervezetének 1983. februári taggy februári 1983. Pártalapszervezetének Egység Szerszámgépgyár a könyv The informantargued prices had constantly increased since1973,which made it Ę l, 1982. április. 468 465 Similar reports from other plants suggest that dissatisfaction and dissatisfaction that suggest plants other from reports Similar Ę l, 1982. február.l, 467 In a base-cell meeting Ina party base-cell Ħ lésér Ę l, op. cit. op. l, 179 CEU eTD Collection jegyz 471 a Szerszámgépgyár Pártalapszervezetét Szerszámgépgyár a 470 increased but no one investigates how much money the workers have in the bank.” the in have workers the money much how investigates one no but increased a Kovács Pártalapszervezett Kovács a 469 would find very few amongRába-workers them”. one bank, the in money had who ones, lucky the were who investigated, if someone that and then they can arguethatpeople pay canaffordworkers higher to the say prices. Our thepopulation, savingsof about the data publishes always statistical “Ouroffice living: decline the of standard the also of about Industrialthe complained Unit workers the Tool stagnates, and a third, largest group, where it declines (which affects the majority themajority the of largest whereitaffects declines (which group, and stagnates, athird, group, which does not notice the economic situation, another, where the standard of living improve livingstandard near According won’t of in is interview future. tothe a the there the and situation economic our that argued was it aTV-interview “In society: from has disappeared justice social that reasoning the with rejected was solidarity to reference which will broaden sector, aboutprivate upperclass”. expansion this the the of industry. They inareworried work overregulated the peoplewho only the of income the reduce restrictions Theeconomic has emerged. country, the of situation by economic the affected isnot which An class’, ‘upper share. an ever decreasing income,national receives workingthe non-productiveclass,the the which produces and money sphere, to goes judgment basis the isthat distribution of notthe work one performs. They the that think the workers disapproval.A of report ideologicalthe trainingof party the concludedmembership that did not feelinleast lightthe of informationthe peoplereports of spoke withnon-productive work that their means; at honest money with their rich the earned that believed justice. Fewpeople social situation improved in spite of overtime: “In their GYML,415/210/3, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Pártbizottsági ülés GYML, X. 415/528/2, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/528/2, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/212/15, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Ę könyve. Jelentés a párttagok körében végzett politikai nevel politikai végzett körében párttagok a Jelentés könyve. The visible material differences between the social groups urgedmany betweenthesocial The visiblequestion material groups differences to Ę l. 1982. november-december. 1982. l. Ę l, 1982. március. 1982. l, 470 Ę munkáról, 2. 1982. október 14. október 1982. 2. munkáról, 471 469 The 180 In CEU eTD Collection 475 Pártalapszervezett Motor a 474 473 in amonth. Wedon’t think that this bigdifference isjustified. Itseems that leadingthe role –withoutworker is As overtime – 4500Ft. compared tothis, engineers earn 6500-7000 Ft monthly intoo. The of increases continue wage “Unfortunately,an 1983, average price material ladder. painfullythis evident Thegrowing rendered differences social decline: integration into the socialistmiddle class, they found themselves at the bottom of the social class; in was the increasing there 1980s,however, an complaint insteadof that a solid the membersruling regardedthemselves as of whether the reforms workers the 1970s of that their social and political role also declined. It was disputablemoney?!” even in the light of the indominant workorwhere he he ofa where the to goes earns consciousness the worker: more be will which shifts, further economy private and state the between proportion if the question: wehaveapolitical “Here ideology: capitalist the to more responsive rendered people sector inbe could out incomesprivate high the the pointed earned that that income.An opportunity -needs anextra support!) flatproblem (parental the back to we are children the and Everybody who wants to achieve something -whether a car, family house or the support of ends meet. We don’t thinkmake have workers to today aproblem is urban the that opinion ageneral inequalities: “It that this can be explainedineverybody find whichcould work privatethe sector, onlyincreased existing thus with the increase meat”. buy kilo to one hasaproblem villa, another a builds of the demands. employees). Question: why can’t all the strata share the burdens equally? E.g. while one Végrehajtó Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés a Járm a jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Végrehajtó 472 Ibid. jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/212/5, X. GYML, original. in the is Stress GYML,415/211/33, X. MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári The economic dissatisfaction of the working class was linked with argument the with waslinked class working of the dissatisfaction The economic 475 Ę l. 1982. február. 1982. l. 473 is needed to participate in the private economy”. in private participate the is neededto Ħ II. Pártalapszervezett II. 472 People also argued that not People alsoarguedthat Ę l, 1982. november. 1982. l, 474 It was also It 181 CEU eTD Collection this because their prices are dishonestly high. A pancake costs 6-8Ft, maize 10-15Ft the high.A costs pancake arethis dishonestly prices becausetheir means beyond exploit shopkeepers of perhaps the The private Hungarian a simple worker. catering, forinstance, one week of camping costs 1000 Ft. The prices in the restaurants are which werefrequented also byforeign tourists: “There isnocheap accommodation and at Lake Balaton, of holiday the increasingprices resorts the particularly of complained be increased”. prices can the the retiredthe big the families”. and means of entertainment. Accordinghavedrive noproblem to in For future. the low-incomethe groups is carthe often only the to the employees will income ahigher whohave Those increase? by price the affected most the who are these groups are the working thethat increased priceit “Themarket: petrol is while of worldwent downin question the class, hear to werevery surprised the workers forge-shop, of the report information extraordinary socialfortunate whohad groups, enough meansfinance to theirluxuries. According an to which fieldsdemands inmore oflife, bitternesstheir againstthe other too, reinforced április. Pártalapszervezetét Szerszámgépgyár a jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Végrehajtó 480 Pártalapszervezett Kovács a jelentés információs 479 478 belonggroups. to disadvantagedthe reported to were families working-class of children the stressed: repeatedly werelikewise flats buy concluded. report the party”, the of leading role the experience not do therefore “They party: the of role leading the than important more became economicthe country,the was situation through which of everything explained 477 of incomes”. the distribution in the role no plays it but work-benches the by only manifest is class working the of a Hátsóhíd Alapszervezetét Hátsóhíd a 476 GYML,415/528/13, X. MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári cit. GYML,op. 415/211/28, MSZMP X. Vagon-ésMagyar Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai.Rendkívüli október, 1985. jelentése, információs Pártbizottságának Vagongyár A Információs jelentés a Járm a jelentés Információs GYML, X. 415/528/1, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/528/1, X. GYML, Ę l, 1983. január. 1983. l, Ħ II. Pártalapszervezett II. 480 476 Holiday trips also started Holiday tobe alsostarted regardedasluxury;trips a people The party membership of the Vehicle Unit criticized that 479 In Industrialthe Tool Unitpeople wondered“how high Ę l, 1982. december. 1982. l, Ę l, 1982. november, op. cit. op. november, 1982. l, 477 The unequal chances of young people to 478 But workers had to cut back their back cut to had workers But Ę l. 1983. l. 182 CEU eTD Collection végzett politikai nevel 485 Pártalapszervezett Motor a 484 az Energetikától. 1982.október. 483 living”. of standard former their preserve cannot they that feel “they because Unit Energy strongly of influenceof mood the employees to the the werereported Price increases in Hungary”. increase to continue they nevertheless, but market world in the down going opposite effect. The workers say that according to our leaders the prices of our products are the worldmarket on our country is the increase of the prices; we can never experience its of “effect” only thatthe account into take if we Particularly asnatural. this process regard enlightened arenot to enough workers Inouropinion, the influence mood. thepublic negatively increases price constant “The comments: political critical openly by followed the criticism that the economicinformation of reports 1980sspeakthe of gradual the deterioration politicalthe of mood: situation of the industrial working class deteriorated was against these unfair profits!” working class”. burden the on put public the to of the state attempt increases and the price varied taxes, of the workers is deteriorating from day to day. They relate this to the ever greater and a Járm a 482 and 2-3times fruit the costs morein Gy than a Hátsóhíd Alapszervezetét 481 membership. “speculators”for the more opportunities were there livingdeclined, of while standard their that workers and self-employed to get rich. This contributed to the passivity of the GYML,X. 415/536/11,MSZMP MagyarVagon-és GépgyáriBizottságának anyagai. Apárttagok körében GYML, X. 415/537/16, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML, X. 415/211/39, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés GYML, X. 415/537/1, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/537/1, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/528/1, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/528/1, X. GYML, Ħ Pártalapszervezetét The mounting discontent of people was manifest in their political opinions, too. The 483 According to the informant of the Motor Unit“the public mood of the majority 485 484 The discussions with the party members concluded that it irritated the Ę munka feladatai. 1985. október. Ę Ę Ę l. 1986. október. 1986. l. l, 1983.l, augusztus. l, 1985. november-december. 1985. l, 481 Ę r. The localr. councils should dosomething 183 482 CEU eTD Collection az MVG KISZ szervezetét KISZ MVG az 488 Hungary?” of that not and USA the of expenses military the only know we can Why Romania. know how much debt the Hungariancredibility state has of whiletheir they strikingly in theleaders 1980s:in lightthe of information the peoplereports, openly the questioned tell us andthe debtsthe official of has changed This Poland ataboo. remained however, criticism, political of managers; the media:and “We do not understand why we can’t Végrehajtó Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés a Járm a jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Végrehajtó 487 Pártalapszervezett Motor a 486 employees find it remarkable that with health with finditemployees remarkable middle-aged,respect tothe condition of that the “Hungarian lifestyle” evidently with associated much low andwas “Ourtoo work pay: himselfdeath and tothedogs”. nothingworks to achievesgoes society while in Europe and hard very work people they Hungarian the “Today criticism: in political still went people “far” how get to nowhere. Ourshows comment it. following The from least suffered the they country even though the socialist way of life restrictivethe measures, and they for wrongblamed the leadership economicthe policy of means that everybodyfor gave media leaders the and the that believe reasons the people to that refused reported risks”. some implies it if even people in the confidence more have should sterile isolation of whohadwaitthose to 30-45 minutes becausethe closed bridges. of People criticizethe this leaders during the train.private not membership only Thisis grass-roots the opinion the of alsobut thatof visits of other state in Austrian the visit a Lázár security György by concerning measures of exaggerated the leaders, too. A state outraged people argued were can besafely that “It privileges: and enjoyed unjustified they leader GYML, X. 415/236/8, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/236/8, X. GYML, GYML,415/211/33, X. MagyarSzocialista Munkáspárt (MSZMP) MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári GYML, X. 415/208/35, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés It was argued that after the economic reform, there was a relatively sharp criticism sharp wasarelatively there reform, economic the after that was argued It 486 It was also criticized that the state leaders were actually afraid of the people, Ę Ę l. 1986. december. 1986. l. l. 1981. november. 1981. l. Ħ II. Pártalapszervezett II. Ę l, 1982. szeptember. 1982. l, 487 It was also 488 The 184 CEU eTD Collection It was, however, added, that materialism was characteristic of older people, too: “today too: oldermaterialism of was people, that characteristic was, however,added, It to organizetheminto persuadethem is “it theirvery when they are 30”. twenties, difficult attached toomuch tomaterial importance leaving upon things school and if failed party the young people that of MVG reported committee Theexecutive young people. for party the reported of increasing the problems in of recruitment, particular diminished the appeal of “Would youcallthe capitalists back?” theworkers. adialogue with start to attempt made nonoticeable fact in party the mechanism, neweconomic the eraof the to contrary and, partner; conversation rendered it unlikely that disappointment This rooted deeply of credibility regime. the underminedeffectively the the majority of the workers1980s reflect the increasing that gapbetweenthe policy ideology and party the of would have accepted theworking class; andparty second, there was still spaceas for a social a dialogue. The reports of the two important differences: first, at that time the state had still reserves to appease the of 1968 when growing socialsituation of the 1980s was in somedifferences aspects similar to the reception of the economic reform wereopportunities for social other which lived betterthangroups, The significantly workers. the criticized strongly. livingstandard its workingof industrial the economic policy of new class, opened There were, however,improve failed the to state while the that People recognized support. working-class közhangulatot jellemz the “unhealthy”the Hungarian “cuisine” butalso that muchof too work”. only notof isit resultthe our employees, Accordingto in Europe. last we areamong the 489 GYML,415/231/5, X. MSZMP Gy In the 1980s the decreasing appeal of the party visible.In the1980sdecreasingappealof Functionaries became more party the The quotations wellillustrate processthe of how regimethe increasingly lost Ę f Ę bb tendenciák. 1987. január. Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. A lakossági 489 185 CEU eTD Collection 492 bemember. aparty want to not hedid that declared was acandidate, who manager, production direct a party: reduction reduction itof Wemembership. party the can onlyif afford aresufficientthere new party the regulation is very […] It natural what dangerous means. meansselection It the party members together with all their faults and lapses on condition that they do notviolate the ifweaccepted membership of the attraction increase the wecould party, realized inthe be can ambition and interest their that individuals the to showing “Besides requirements: collective”. andthe individuals the to attractive make party the have to We members. newparty the party, we should tell people where itbrings advantages. We have tobe ‘cunning’ to win The individuals always else. members“The are aseverybody people same the 1979 20% between party 1983. and have an interest and of attractive enough. Themembership by party of the Rába MMGdecreased organization if we want to increaseitwas not impliedthat topeople, which themembership attractive party make should the attractionthe that recommended he and membership the to in relation ofinterest of spoke the openly MMG of Rába committee executive The membership. party the and appeal of decreasing the society”. of characteristic become has materialism that exaggerated of isit but theconsequence system the atall not say “We peopleagainstawkward defense are workers: the haveto these that of by is orcandidateswouldmake That indeed some supported this the workers point much,too peoplea blue-collar would e.g. count from worker dues.” party payhis cartax 491 cit., 5. 490 A párttaggá nevelés és a pártépít Ibid Apárttagok körébenvégzett politikai nevel . , 6. The party organizations were apparently aware of the “difficult political situation” the“difficultpolitical awareof apparently were The party organizations 492 One member of the executive committee proposed it be more lenient with its 491 490 A concrete case was mentioned that threw bad light on the on light bad threw that mentioned was case A concrete Ę munka tapasztalatai a Rába MMG-ben, op. cit., 5. Ę munka ésa munka párttagokkal való foglalkozás tapasztalatai, op. 186 CEU eTD Collection 497 19. november jegyz 496 whose membership had membership whose 50%since decreasedbymore than “The figures showthe 1985: organizations. Only 12,4% of youth the of factory the (below 30)weremembers ofKISZ, in mass the interest of the decline aradical of MMGreported Rába committee their life. Passivity means a distance from organizations”. official adistancefrom means the life.their Passivity influence directly that issues in the interested are they indifferent; not general “in were political Areport work. of influencethe of KISZin Gy nor themost important reason;itindicated the declining prestige of membershipthe and it that ismaterialism.increasingwas not only, some the There through evidence,though, Információs jelentés aFutóm jelentés Információs annual income. GYML,X. 415/533/30, MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. is materialistic attitude developedin already school. primary the and work, of honor the feel don’t they is passive, youth that criticized MMG Rába tasks. socialandpolitical undertake to have hardly time muchworkyoung establishpeople so that a couple hasto theirlifethat thought to they buildingfamily,established ahouse, etc.” started a workplace wherethey any They wouldneedmoney undertake morework. because they second their to run they then and low too wages their find They benefit. financial no has undertake ataskthat to materialism. areunwilling people Young experience an increasing We work. political in them involve to difficult very is it and concepts basic the know not do They workers. theyoung skilled of education political the with experience negative itwas complained win for that difficult youth to “We party: the working-class over hada candidates”. 495 494 493 Jelentés a KISZ munkájáról, op. cit. op. munkájáról, KISZ a Jelentés GYML,415/529/14/3, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai.Pártbizottsági ülés Jelentés a KISZ munkájáról, op. cit. op. munkájáról, aKISZ Jelentés Ibid., 6. Ibid., 5 Ę könyve. Jelentés a gyár ifjúsága társadalmi helyzetének javítására tett intézkedésekr tett javítására helyzetének társadalmi ifjúsága gyár a Jelentés könyve. The members of usually explainedparty youth thewithdrawal committees of 493 Other speakers openly admitted that this was not the case. The members case.The the not this was that admitted openly speakers Other Ħ Pártvezet Ę In 1984, workersthe said thatflat a cost 10-15timemore than their ségét Ę l, 1984. szeptember 1984. l, 494 It was also reported from MVG that Ę . r frankly r young that stated people 495 In 1987 the party In in1987 themembers party 496 497 In 1987the party Ę l. 1987. l. 187 CEU eTD Collection közhangulatot jellemz 500 membership indicated the problem of the new enrolments. new the of problem the indicated membership 499 the decisive role of socialistproperty, the power of the proletariat, and social redistribution. judgenot according situation to they propaganda, the our Becausedo of deficiencies the of difficulties. economic by thetransitional aresupported arguments These capitalism. over courageous (and the least “Themore by living wasenvied workers: standardof the Austrian that MMG reported informed) even questiontreated as fools.the It is more andsuperiority more difficult to make a living with honest work!” of thebe to they want don’t increase but priceswill the that understand People incomparable? socialist system Why make one suchcomparisons?should Afterthishowcan prices the we arguethat are canbuy liters. counterpart from litershis wage only 200 his of petrol Hungarian while can is Ft’? this worker Austria,account, anAustrian buy which we take 22 into If 1000 in 10schilling costs it because petrol of price increase the ‘we haveto that argument to the unrealistic picture. Now the chairman of the price office does this on TV. What can we say becausean itgives ours with Western compareprices the not shouldone people that of April, pricethe of petrol (22 increase justification tohearof the surprised the membership: “Wewerevery grass-roots of the part confused country of the situation bad the economic news of reformers’ the the West. to emigrated who inMosonmagyaróvár, leaders party two of mentioned cases the MMG of Rába committee executive the member of itssocialism living subjects, than to that ahigherstandardof did One capitalism. offered of of KISZ”. indifference andthelackofinterest of youth andthe continued the decline of influence the 498 GYML,X. 415/234, MSZMP Gy A párttaggá nevelés és a pártépít és a nevelés Apárttaggá Jelentés a gyár ifjúsága társadalmi helyzetének javítására tett intézkedésekr tett javítására helyzetének társadalmi ifjúsága agyár Jelentés Given the closeness of prosperous, capitalist Austria, it was very difficult to argue to difficult very itwas Austria, capitalist prosperous, of closeness the Given 498 Since KISZ was the youth organization of the party, its decreasing party, the of youth organization KISZ wasthe Since Ę f Ę bb tendenciák. 1986. december. Ę munka tapasztalatai a Rába MMG-ben, aRába tapasztalatai munka Hírháttér Ę r-Sopron MegyeiBizottsága.Apparátus iratai. Alakossági - Behind thenews 499 Thereis that evidence some ). For years we have told to op. cit Ę l, op. cit. op. l, . 500 Rába 188 CEU eTD Collection a Motor Pártalapszervezett Motor a 503 themselves from themselves from responsibility the referring tothe unpredictably and unfavorably changed leaders relieve the fact that the with displeased are “Our employees reports: information közhangulatot jellemz that”. leadersays other leaderthe one says this and hear Notthat aclearspeech. like to would go onlikeis for this?Theremuchexpectation program the governmentbutpeople the of much cunning in this country,more ever people aremaking illegal profits. Howlong will it beWhy is largely blameisleadership they There the this. to for responsibility? don’t take discussed more frankly. People want to know who got the country into this situation. The which decliningshowed the authority of “Our party:the economic problems shouldbe account”. is ever decreasing number of people who have the moral right to call anybody to ruleslaw arecorresponduncontrollable. business andincomes tothe andprivate of There the will ofand stronger a becomes narrow employees the of dependence the that opinions stratum are There happens. (thosenothing still and everybody with to be known to seem which property)injustices, social the mention is frequently They realized. population. the of sensitivity the increases employees the and workers Moral judgment does notwere well summarizedin the county report of 1986: “The decrease of the real wages of the government and the of social party support the Thereasonsof emphasis. declining the greater ever an received problems and social economic both the variousthe reports situation”. our evaluate realistically to more difficult it of renders capitalism achievements technological economicand of the The overrating 502 munka és az agit. prop. feladatai, 2. 1985. július 16. Mez Mosonmagyaróvári 501 GYML, X. 415/538/1, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/538/1, X. GYML, GYML,415/232/4, X. MSZMP Gy GYML,415/529/2/3, X. MSZMP MagyarVagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. A 503 In the second half of the 1980s the decline of the regime evidently accelerated; in accelerated; regime evidently of the decline the half In 1980s the of second the The lack of confidence in theleadership manifested itself in many other 502 More and more people demanded the punishment of the responsible leaders, of responsible the andpunishment the more demanded More people Ę f Ę Ę bb tendenciák. 1986. november. gazdasági Gépgyár (MMG) pártbizottsági ülésének jegyz ülésének pártbizottsági (MMG) Gépgyár gazdasági Ę l. 1987. április 1987. l. . Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. A lakossági 501 Ę könyve. Az ideológiai 189 CEU eTD Collection this point, would be able to make wouldbe progress. this point, ableto atangible to deteriorate let conditions leadership the that the that doubted Unit Gear of the workers thesuccessof Neither development”. the guarantee leadership the can future. do not see the beginning of the realdeclarations afterdevelopment this? The mood of our employees is not optimistic, toand put it mildly. Theythey say thatnot they arealways afraid of the leadership was the inTV-speech that his recent admitted truthful Comrade Gáspár circumstances. to the public. Many people ask: how can we believe the official a Szerszámgépgyár Pártalapszervezetét Szerszámgépgyár a 504 a Futóm 505 but arenoefficientthere measuresfor instance them, against work. getting income without population. People more frequently mention the social injustices, which everybody knows the of sensitivity the increases andemployees workers the of wages real the decrease of September program of governmentthe have there been The nosubstantial […] results. believe theacceptanceof the since plan Some people that impossible the future. to it renders which inflation, of aspiral ittriggers that areafraid People theprices. of increase uncontrollable the anything against do not did because government the notrust There is months. in last two-three of people the patience the tested increase of prices the permanent increase of the prices 15% triggersrepulsion. think the People oftheprices that increase some products is too high as compared drastic andthe comments negative receive announcements it. concrete The accept to refuse to the strict regulation in they increases practice from prices, the of living of planned the standard decrease of the of the wages. increased:while in The“Even distrust governmentthe the though population the understood authority decreasing ever an possessed party the and continued, irresistibly disintegration manifestations of social discontent; according toa county report of 1987 the process of GYML, X. 415/538/3, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/538/3, X. GYML, GYML, X. 415/538/6, MSZMP Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai. Információs jelentés Információs anyagai. Bizottságának Gépgyári Vagon-és Magyar MSZMP 415/538/6, X. GYML, Ħ Pártvezet Ę ségét Ę l. 1987. május Ę l. 1987. szeptember 1987. l. . . 505 These were not sporadic not These were 504 The 190 CEU eTD Collection explain the economic and social processes of the past years confused the membership and years themembership of confused past the andsocial processes explain economic the party andbuilding. themembers difficulties party the of Party failure thinkthatthe to of the local party organs, in role of declining in the leadership, trust party authority decreaseof the the party the the the insulting comments leading lacked “They the weakeningof initiative: seethe changesand tothe slowly reacted of people who are not membersit power, of in possession the manifest was only theparty of role leading the was that of the important criticism mostthe changes.But members more personal expected grass-roots leaders who were responsibleaccount the call to failed to party the was a that general it.inopinion It public confidence for bad decisions and so did party weakened andof thethat leadingroleof andtheauthority the them thought that the development wasworkers). slow. The 1985, 192people withdrewfrom in party,the 241and in1986, 1987, 504(halfof them The numbermembership of whoresigned in theirpeople increasing trend: also showedan while agree with in1987thirty-five they said not people that did policy the party.the of justified their withwas political inthecounty reasons withdrawal only who people three membership, were more willingresigned their who before. Those, year one less than people -445people 31,862 to give their political couldtrend be observed in on county,the 1 January too: 1988 the membershipnumbered discontent as a reason.in Thedecreasing by1,3% country. membership the decreased andthe party membership, In 1986, it first time in the examined period – the enrolments failed to balance the reduction of the 508 cit. op. alapján, határozata 13-i december 507 (the wealthy) is enforced, and the incomes in the private sector areuncontrollable”. sector and incomes in the is private wealthy) the enforced, (the thewill a smallminority dependent, of more becoming thatpeople are Some think people 506 Ibid. Szóbeli tájékoztató az 1987. évi tagfelvételek alakulásáról aMegyei Párt-végrehajtó Bizottság 1983. A lakossági közhangulatot jellemz közhangulatot Alakossági The diminishedinof appeal manifestIn statistics, party the was 1987 –for too. the 508 Inthebeginning discussions of manymembers1988, with party that revealed Ę f Ę bb tendenciák, Sopron, 1987. december, op. cit. op. december, 1987. Sopron, tendenciák, bb 506 191 507 CEU eTD Collection összesít 511 1988. decemberi állapot szerint. 28. március 510 1988. tapasztalatai. elbeszélgetések kapcsolatos párttagkönyvcserével disagreement. InSopron,disagreement. numbersthese were598and 156respectively. quadrupled in one year.quadrupled in one membership number of resignedwithdrawal the whothose the Thus, 2,051 people. of membership county the of significantly of that previousthe yearexceeded with the county 350new members;inadmitted increasewas loss 1988the only of 124. The the In 1985theindustry the of deflated. radically From membership of arty “value” 1987 the concept of socialism the taught between The difference party. with identification the hindered theiremotional and today’s reality causes a conflict to part of the membership.” 509 taxation and the inflation were realized. The majority of people identify reform with these program government only living, declinethe standardof the priceincreases, of the the From the and wasincreasing. feltpractice distancethe between ideas The population that balance). of the improvement the profile, of production economy (change the on impact execution becausethe meeting quickly of hadno formerdisappeared decisions the palpable party national the after hopeful mood more for regime. the The degree an to unprecedented party future “In prospects: and quarter thepast their year of the publicopinion deteriorated membership: a significant number of them were skeptical about the economic policy of the reformistimpacted conservative and negatively wings of on politicalthe mood the party its conflictbetween membersthe concludedthat with discussions grass-roots The restriction. increasing with identified reform population the in fact, popularity; of of party.the In Gy agree with not policy the they did reason that 542 gavethe membership county, and inthe GYML, X.415/238, MSZMP Gy GYML, MSZMP X.415/238, Gy GYML,X. 415/220/4,MSZMP Gy Ę According to party reports the economic policy of the reformers failed to win k 1989 . Ę r 1,194 people r 1,194 withdrew from party the forand political 241 510 In the first three quarters quarters three In peopleresignedof first the 1989, 2,372 their Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátusiratai. Párttagság összetétele Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. Háromnegyedévi Ę r-Sopron MegyeiApparátus Bizottsága. A iratai. 511 192 509 CEU eTD Collection 513 közhangulatot jellemz first place?” first be bothto blamein the thegovernmentor party the not or itIs consideration? noreceive couldhave called attention to problems?the Andif they why did, theirdid opinions who experts, respected and economists scholars, we have not Did enterprises! of state large budgetwasspenton the subvention the wasnostructural changethere partof a and now. Itisnot theirfault they non-marketablehardworking that goods, produced upto been have be They blame. to class is working the not It discussed. not are reasons the butwe have wrong done what told Wearefrequently of membership? losesthe trust the “Party members ask:how doesthe governmentwant to realize this ifambitious program it Sopron also case arguedthe oldleadership the that credibilitylost social and support: lackof perspective”. for the party blame the people the now level and a political to driven was reform economic the that itseems because either party spare the which inflation lostnot itloss did confidenceof generated people. the The of andtrust its unfortunately,government, broke contradictory past promises and measurestook with lackfrom the and increasesApartitinsecurity.the their of prospects, economic irritates people any lack prospects of This acrisis. approaches which tension isincreasing, negative They phenomena. stabilization,instead that think of only andinjustice social 512 reform of the whole linked the with not was theparty of reform timeat that the but was criticized centralism political system: democratic of system The regime. of crisis the political accelerated the comprehend “People expect a from thethat not majority survived population of butthey suggest did period, this changethe in the work materials Few basecell democratize. its call to and of party the reform style announced the of the Ibid. GYML,415/234/3, X. MSZMP Gy An even more important question was how the grass-roots membersto responded grass-roots question howthe important morewas An even 513 Ę f Ę bb tendenciák. 1988. szeptember. Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága. Apparátus iratai. A lakossági 512 The report from 193 CEU eTD Collection kérdésér Állásfoglalás az MSZMPfebruár10-11-i,’A KB politikai1989. rendszerreformjának néhány id realized within the framework of realized of framework within this the system”. presentpolitical notsystem even does thedemocratic valuesthatcouldrepresent be the that think people Many party. the in trust and security their strengthen people, simple party that would testify to a more direct knowledge and representation of the problems of 515 nevel 514 characteristic of the Hungarian economy”. Hungarian the of characteristic consideredlong becausedecent, ifnot,for productive willand not chaos be work fully be should work, to right the including nation, Hungarian the of citizens decent the of hand, bankers, rich etc. speculators, and on proprietors, otherthe hand. rightful claims The one the on unemployed or workers impoverished situation: extreme a very for opportunity party system means a real economic opportunity for every Hungarian citizen or it gives an working classbecame inevitable:not “We see do unambiguously if legalizedthe multi- asituation in indeed Industrial anticipate Factory social did the the which of Tool decline the of organization party ofMVG.The organizations base the among system political the of reform the of discussion the mention can one class, working the of role future the and documents come. radicalAmong concernabout rapid expressed fewthat political change to the the for unprepared was population the of majority the that seems it system, in new the representation spoke of political workers’ that necessity the of the period in bedocumented the Even somevoices can though were mainactors. the intellectuals whole of society. the increaseof participation political a moreradical to demand into rapidly developed In the political debates of how to transform the political system the of of democracy. people’s the mixed exist; relations property […] The already isno this depend not does objection on establishment will the of This or parties. the plurality the of andthe relations changeof property the for conditions the “Life hascreated reported: GyML, X.415/526/4/3, AZ MVG Pártbizottságának iratai. Pártbizottsági ülés jegyz GYML,415/526/3/1, MSZMP X. Vagon-ésMagyar Gépgyári Bizottságának anyagai.A politikai Ę munka tapasztalatai, az agitáció, propaganda és tájékoztatás fejlesztésének feladatai. 1988. február 2. Ę l szóló állásfoglalás’ tervezetér Ę l, 3. 1988. március 2. 515 From the New Foundry the following was 514 The demand to democratize the party Ę könyve. Ę szer 194 Ħ CEU eTD Collection substantial renewal otherwise people would desert the party in party the election. the desert would people otherwise renewal substantial has not increased? That of the workers, the institutions, the budget or the whole of society of whole the or budget the institutions, the workers, the of That increased? not has achievement Whose increased!’ not has country the of achievement ‘The restrictions: the andlivelihoodwork mention […]Iwould like how the Ministerof to Finance explained decent conditions and performs in his task market.the The wantno workers favors but According us to a leader is ifpro-labor he demands from work everybody, for provides even move be if henot mehimself pro-labor to declares hasaleading if someone position. andtheir work knowledge and aspartners they us, in workers recognize Itdoes their work. with progress who serve social intellectuals and the appreciate respect learnt to thing: we robots butfor ourselves, andnot thinkingby people stand machines.Andthe more one if beinforty years that good people understood wehave pastthinkthe learntto andwork I am a worker. In my place no one should make declarations, let alone demands. It would uninvited act speakersagitate, and demandin namethe working of the class and thenation. considered itequally important toensure the rightssocial of “Today inpeople: this country of who change but apolitical democratic socialismdemanded theworkers, among supporters were becauseitalso there butthat shows interests their real considering without “namepopulismformulating in workingthe class” the and of practice the of demands increasing is only because not criticized speaker MVG. The the interesting contribution the county conference of the party on 10 June 1989, which was held in the congresshall of in voiced was system new inthe interests working-class of representation political the for The wasaneed there opinion workers. that the among werediscussed alternatives political determined”. however, be, still can system the of functioning The question. a political longer 517 516 Ibid., 3. Ibid., 13. On the basis of the surviving documents itis difficult tosay what kind socialof and 516 Another party initiate a partyhad Another the party that to argued organization 517 195 CEU eTD Collection factory. Hall Congress the in held was conference The terem. Kongresszusi MVG Rába 10. június 1989. workers, which was also recognized by the manager of Rába in the quoted interview that quoted Rába in managerof whichthe bythe wasalsorecognized workers, popular the among not the that was true regime itwas, nevertheless, class, working the of name the in regime the attack to move political a was there though Even socialist. wasnot general the mood that pro- however, show decrease of membership), the political massive (the facts” “hard The membership. grass-roots the to known were they whether or ideas, manythese how shared people know not wedo workers, the among system existing appeared betweenthe party working class. and the shows that the workersfor This is in being rejected). workingexpression used a strong the class(andoriginal text who did not givespoke of a possibility of findinga reformed party anewsocial basis was notthat the up socialist demandsus”. reject not anddoes if accepts also party only the felt that the firstreal reform task. We would like to participate in its realization, incracks our own way - of course, to speak of socialism as a possible way of development. We, however, think that this is the nationally politicians, whodeclarerecognized themselves tobe reformers,not even do dare mesomesmart, to that is incomprehensive It democracy. communal on built development that he deserves power political the receives of arealshare worker a where Wewantasociety produced. he from what reward of fairthe share a receives everybody where a society we want that on the basisthink I Socialist. we want? Democratic. society kinddo andWhat of peasants. the workers of mainly his weblame executors, the plenty somethingthe then applicants iswrong, and if of work. Becauseother. is it perspective agood not if that something is wedidgood, it thereare and For us theiswithin and I thinknot blame theexisting latter should badstructure? the true we each socialist direction means a 518 GyML,415/226/1, X. MSZMP Gy While the quoted contributionWhile the quoted showsthat there existedleftist a critique of the Ę r-Sopron Megyeir-Sopron Bizottsága iratai. 518 It is remarkable that the speaker the is that It remarkable Megyei Pártértekezlet anyaga, 6-7. anyaga, Pártértekezlet Megyei of the 196 CEU eTD Collection standard ofliving did working than class.Theits the party increasingly ideology and thus in enjoyed whoeconomicworked privatewhile the sector policy much those a higher wrong the of price the pay to had they that believed workers discontent, social mounting “working class” Even term the ideology a newcontent. with fill more socialist to attempt the made no disappeared fromachieve failed 1980s theparty andinthe real economicthe 1968, of results, reform to the rhetoric after propagated of whichwasstrongly theclass, working 1980s. Theparty’s policy towards the party. As itdeeply rooted dissatisfactionis with socialism, the signsevident of which were visible throughout the from the theirworking class. In the light of the information reports it can be argued that it reflected a capitalists”. the defensemovementachieved real precisely inresults the capitalistAnd countries. think Idon’t that of labor the that somewhere Ihaveread is if unemployment. there even security there the social and living of standard workers’ the see can everybody West, inthe been have Hungarians for intereststhe workers the same way regime: foras the climate political thebad of reasons the Zwackmanager about the promised on TV, hewould can come following answerdid notdiffertomorrow.much from argumentsthe of informationthe andreports Many be only demagogy on behalf of the you call the capitalists back? you callthecapitalists “ same question of the answerstothe timely was publishedon readers’ pageasthe socialist remained proprietorship) unfulfilled. Itwas perhaps symbolicinterview that the feelreason hadbecause (including many of to regime’s agood the promises deceived he gave in the summer of of he inthesummer1989. gave 520 519 ‘Visszahívná akapitalistákat?’, ‘Visszahívná ‘Beszélgetés Horváth Edével, a Rába MVG vezérigazgatójával’, op. cit. It is a theoretical question why a leftist alternative failed to attract the majority of majority the attract to failed alternative leftist a why question theoretical is a It 520 Tér-kép ” . We do not know the occupation of the respondents but the but respondents the of occupation the know not do We 519 In the interview the manager admitted that the workers the that admitted manager the interview Inthe , 1989. június 1. “If one “If provides Would 197 CEU eTD Collection the 1980snonethe of twopartiesthe a demonstrated willingness dialogue. tore-start the in party; andthe class working the between social renew the settlement to been a chance have may there reform economic first the of era the In program. political leftist a new, to they was that havebeen many expect would unrealistic responsive of to therefore It people. in ideology eyes socialist the the discredited theparty“successfully” reports, information lightof the factory. In the inthe relations power challengelittle established do to could which discussions, theoretical to limited was democracy enterprise of improvement working the economicdeprived further classafter illusions: reform people of the of 1968 the of criticism political tothe to respond party the of Thefailure workers. the of majority the known to were asself-management) (such alternative concepts that doubted any rate, of regime. the political decline the lost the support of the workers: as the abundant criticisms show, people were conscious of This political climate was not very favorable for socialist alternatives. It can be, at It alternatives. for socialist very favorable wasnot climate This political 198 CEU eTD Collection W Figure 5. The South Works of VEB Carl Zeiss Jena ORKERS INTHE ORKERS H ONECKER E RA 199 CEU eTD Collection 523 2 August 1968. Material zurEinschätzung derpolitischen-ideologischen Situationunterder Bevölkerung des Bezirkes Gera, 522 of Gera. district the to belonged Jena formed. 521 how wehow livetoday cadres. Wefrequentlyhear women):the argument (mainlyfrom thedecisive question is wrongovertime thatresulted from the leading inordertodecreasethelosses decisions of question: straightforward the privileged and they have ahigher standardliving of Many than workers. the put workers are intelligentsia the andpartof traders private the self-employed, the artisans, as the of the political climate: “In this respect the workers said that in the GDR other strata such people’s basic of the development”understanding wasmore of questions our critical even “What dowegetout ofsocialism?” bourgeois sovereignty”. bourgeois of concept the and internationalism socialist of principle the between comparisons Third, imperialism; and socialism between struggle class the of intensification and complexity in of relations level; global favor socialism inadequateat the knowledge of the Second, about the increasingnumber fundamentals. of Thisis supported by following:the expressions First, of doubt strengthyetfully comprehend a peoplenot revealed could that several theoretical that problems of report on politicalthe mood of population:the discussions “Thelight agitators’ broughtthe to socialist world system and the change of power Stress is is mine. Stress Thüringisches Staatsarchiv (ThStA) Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera. Nr. IV B-2/9/1/550, In 1952 the former structure of provinces (Länder) was dissolved, and instead of them, districts were In August 1968 the party committee of the district of Gera . 523 People criticize poor provision with consumers’ goods, for instance, goods, with consumers’ provision poor criticize People 522 5. Reform and Retreat 5. Reformand The analysis of the “efficiency of our ideological work and ‘what dowe get socialism?’from Theworkers have to beon 521 received the following the received 200 CEU eTD Collection anything else”.anything from discuss we hardly this, butapart departments brigades or our of tasks discuss the We for that. have time We don’t be materials. the familiarwith to needs one contribution, togive opinions’.a professional for from‘If one wants asks our task no-one above, from allocated Wethe get them.any information wehardly get and with talk us; otherwise shop-floor the to come they overtime, do to us want managers the When management. bad their with again things spoil will leaders state the and plans the fulfill to in order overtime one should worklawnewmake insteadthat a and five-day the week about talkingshould material? We stop 60 hours morenois there on Monday because anything theweek,or during do when wedon’t in a week, andgreat tasks; itis always at the expensethen of the workers. How does the weekend workhelp us the workersweekend work, etc.) in the secondhalf lastof year and this year, too. ‘This won’t solve the will do shifts, (extra work of alot overtime was because there workers the among widespread that’. ‘We isany in shops. Discontentnot while our instance, of are carpets weexport there work products; high;food are industrialfor toomuch, too of products prices the we export with children’s clothes, women’ clothes and women’s underwear; poor supply of several Gera, op. cit. Gera, 524 economic upheaval of the last years of the NES reinforced concerns about the reaction of reaction the about concerns reinforced years NES the of last of the upheaval economic andof reform.the between supporters by hardliners, The motivated disagreement new economic system, and, just in quotedreportwasunusuallythe 1968,theheyday sharp.The was written the of report as in the Hungarian case, thisEast criticism German was partyundoubtedly jargon,ideological which strictlyThe system. existing the of climate criticism sought radical any contain not did document the toreform, of followthe two the countries, party line, thehowever, criticism strikingly of differed: in the light of the Material zurEinschätzung der politischen-ideologischen Situationunter derBevölkerung des Bezirkes In comparison with the Hungarian sources from the era of eraof the In sourcesfrom 1968economic the Hungarian the with comparison 524 201 CEU eTD Collection the ideological hardening of ideologicalthe hardening early the of 1970s was followed by a relatively open discussion in which Hungary, in situation the to – contrary because interesting more the all is period the managers and the workers of the enterprise in the last critical reform. on attack general of the characteristic however, was, rhetoric years of the NES. This in This leading the of of role party”,was manifest the his “neglectpolitical which work”. for “disregarding but achievement for hiseconomic not he wascriticized in thefactthat eventually, he was relieved of his post after Ulbricht’s resignation. There is some sad irony reform: the of retreat the with shaky be to out turned position Gallerach’s methods. in holding views tooutdated being who backward and attached accusedthem response of to professional old the managing guardof Zeiss, alsocompetence, director’s questioned the period. In addition, in the light of the local sources the middle management, who belonged Gallerach’s authority, whopermanently received criticism from higher party in organs this problems from resulted inconsistencies structural the NES,they of the undermined these of many though Even debts. huge accumulated enterprise the and finished, not were investments orders, huge of arrears were fulfill there plans, not the repeatedly could enterprise hard:the years hitZeiss NES, particularly the last of of GDRinthe the whole the affected which troubles, economic The enterprise. the in policy this implement firstGallerach,as deputy-in-chief, andfrom thechief1966, manager of out Zeiss, set to and management”, and planning system of asthe “neweconomic started The reform many inconsistencieswhich of resulted from between subsequentphasesthe NES. the of felt of effects the reform, firm,itthe export strongly andit was alsoanimportant system, bodies. political higher the to workingthe class;thislargely explains the remarkably open criticism, which was reported This chapter examines the reception of the “new system among management” system of of reception examinesthe “new the This chapter economic new the of field” “experimental an aspects many in was Zeiss Carl Since 202 CEU eTD Collection Even though many of Even thoughmany these of of were theproduct structural problems economic problems difficulties. financial had andit great arrears, export huge accumulated enterprise time, the enterprise; hand, the finishedhowever,many other on investments werenot in of new the intomore the andmore plants wereinitiated, and wereintegrated projects investment Ideology and management: The lot of asocialist manager wasnot ahappy one EastGerman the party workers. between and the dialogue with echoing official propaganda. Thefallof Ulbricht’s reform endedtherefore thelimited themselves materials contented local party partners: peopleconversation as equal to treat even make regime The didnot its an attemptHonecker support. for loss working-class of agenuine concern lastdemonstrated party the time when the was,however, reform period comments, whoparty functionaries.andmade The quoted it the not workers was evidently partner: aconversation party the as accepted some workers of itthe seems that importantly, party more toengage about in attempted they them Even even adialogue. policy, and in opinions interested working-class timeat that local weresincerely the party organs it internalalso party but sources later –undoubtedly with revealed that disputes, reflected at the beginning which of chapter– hadthis analmost revolutionary in tone comparison couldnot be said of Biermann, nobody whom dared attack. The information quoted report same authority, the managerial underminedhis attacks that he for,a liberal tolerated while termed canbecorrectly sense, Gallerach Inthis attitudes. working-class lifeand everyday about little very us tell documents, party factory) and (district local the of light in the least of economic andsocial problems 1980s–thesources duringthe of Honeckerthe era,at The NES was a difficult period in the history of Zeiss: on the one hand, large 203 CEU eTD Collection the eliminationthe of in deficiencies of organization the inproduction enterprise. Ithinkour management in front of the factory party committee: “Today’s most important problem is manager againlaid into the old-fashioned methods and thelack ofinitiative ofmuch of later very was, however, real management chief guard amongthe asonemonth one, old the and Gallerach, between conflict The holiday. official an on especially problems, customary with people trouble to not itwas becauseotherwise inpublic, expressed combatants”. active here,butweneed yes-men need and We observers don’t an observer. of perspective the from development our of question every examine they and passivity, to themselves whoaccustomed colleagues, our among managers even “There are conceited: managersthe VEB of Leiters management in their fields. On the “Day new of apply understand economic and principles the failure to enterprise forthe their of the Socialist Leader” ( managementof the old criticized and publicly hefrequently his because on part, conflict problems that resulted from the contradictions of reform. Gallerach was conscious of the and economic the projects for unreasonable the scapegoat see himasthe chief ready to and they were an old not Zeissianer), was Gallerach his predecessor, to manager (contrary investments andnew methods.They any discontented withwere, at rate, “outsider”the ambitious the about enthusiastic not was enterprise the of management middle the because under-fulfillmentitsof plan. Gallerach criticism,tolerated andthis ability served him well repeated its economy, given tothenational caused his that enterprise problems economic reckon both weakeningthe when hehad with position and to reformers the of the especially 1968, after attacked, managerwasfrequently control, the beyond Gallerach’s Sekretärs der IKL (Industriekreisleitung) Zeiss, Tag dessozialistischen Leiters, 16Oktober1968. 526 525 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV B-2/3/255, Nr. Informationsbericht des 1. enterprise). (state-owned Betrieb VEB=Volkseigener ) – one year before he himself had to exercise self-criticism – Gallerach arguedthat –Gallerach exercise self-criticism he hadto ) –one himself yearbefore 526 It was perhaps an achievement of the NES that criticism could be could criticism that NES the of achievement an perhaps was It 525 Carl Zeiss Jena had no reason to be self-satisfied, let alone Tag dessozialistischen 204 CEU eTD Collection suggests that managerial lenient that managerial wasmoresuggests thantherhetoric. practice importantly, theresuccessful in winning over the oldfor his guard new economic managementstyle. More was no sign that very manager chief not rhetoric, the the was despite ineven era; nevertheless, reform the he had any effect on patterns of promotion, which Gallerach finished his speech with the argument that there were problems with the political with the problems were there that argument the with his speech finished Gallerach and the management of the plant has not dealtis informed. unsolved,work addition, shift arenot In of the majority workers the of which with the E-system examples), itwith of number concrete can a (I own prove plans making their are managers shop and managers production direct the plan, the disregard permanently they want, they managers the dowhat plant, instrument in ‘Thereisno the political factors. discipline to several examples in order to prove that the under-fulfillment of the plan was primarily andhelisted results due with the he wasdisappointed said that Gallerach “Even comrade course a shortened he goon he felt should that himself suggested complaintGallerach’s problems of again hadtobeproduction in discussed a factory leadershipparty meeting, year butone when the later bemanagers educated, hadto socialist how description of concrete more a give to failed Gallerach self-parody. into turned sometimes requirements, others”. this as question a politicalAmanager one. needsif socialist educate education,he to wants treat Weneedto management. of the part among resignation of signs I experience factory managers. In the education of the pay need methods.moreto We to attention outdated to traditional, attachment managers’ and isself-satisfaction this obstacle to greatest the that 529 (1999), 197-233. DDR’, der Industrie staatlichen der in Leitungspersonals des Geschichte 528 Sekretärs der IKL Zeiss, 12 November1968. 527 Electric data system. data Electric ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV B-2/3/255, Nr. Informationsbericht des 1. Concerning the In the reform era even East German party jargon, which conformed to ideological to conformed which jargon, German party reform In the era evenEast 527 East German leaders deployed a more militaristic rhetoric than Hungarians the than rhetoric militaristic more a deployed German leaders East problems of management see: Peter Hübner, ’Durch Planung zur Improvisation: Zur Improvisation: zur Planung ’Durch Hübner, Peter see: management of problems Archiv fürSozialgeschichte 529 for a year’. Comrade 205 , 39 528 : CEU eTD Collection of January was published only inJune. publishedof only January was of results the because evaluation the spirit” lacked “fighting contest work socialist the that discipline”. in state collective the educate stake.is on Since they cannot conscioushard of at they what themselves, are not enough fully managers they become so that educate our Wehave to Ulbricht. Walter comrade situation how worthy wecan and consider confidencethe show ourselves of of our present start from the have to “We factory: the of organization party the of secretary by commented first diplomatically the was organization as farwaspossible, which shift attempted party to the work) to responsibility (and The managing director be critically evaluated”. andneeded to plant, stancethey of intheinstrument officials und 18 August 1969. 532 531 1969. 530 also couldnotfulfill their plan targets. further decline in quantity the production of causing aloss millions20 of Marks. The overview of the wholeneed a fundamental production revision. It is alarming that in some fields the managers lackedprocess a clear and yearsmethods managersproblem of for thatthey the areoutdated production directthe as latea been has “It reasons: following as the by primarily inexplained was which plan, the December.fulfill In 1968 thereadmitteddespite reportevery having beensaid,that could enterprise not effort, the the was That a management. the to than employees, the of overtime and work unselfish the to more this manager owed butplan financial the fulfilled the “largely” that the enterprise reported it instance,findcriticism.forbetween read need In linesinorderto1968, the was to not did depict situation, of the one a rosy to picture theenterprise attempted Even though financial in problems for background,the which both sides of blamed dispute the the other. ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IV B-4/13/79, Protokollder IKL-Sitzung, 15 Ibid. ThStARudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV B-4/13/79,IKL-Sitzung, 15 and 18 August However comical these reports may sound today, there were real production and 532 531 It seemsnot only It that butofficials production, Another memberleadership of the pointed out 206 530 CEU eTD Collection put the resolutions of the party into practice creatively, because they yetfully practicehave not becausethey into resolutions of put the creatively, party the they haveonly and towait see. This results attitude from failurethe of managementthe to that think employees Many conceit. and self-satisfaction mediocrity, of toleration the and attitude of adoption the ina passive problem-solving, democracy, lackof commitment the socialist of deficiencies in the manifest is This only. processes technological-economic the of management the with themselves content they and thecollective of education political the for responsibility their recognize to fail who management, middle of spirit primarily in missing the political and professional andqualifications the weak fighting surprisingly – blamed middlefor management the failure:“The ideological reasons lie not – committee supervisory The fulfillment. plan poor persistently Zeiss’s for district of the committee party district the to give explanation an to compelled was enterprise those of directthe production managers in 1969. managementincrease would wagesofin the those and 4to the 7th the wage groups also the that mention to necessary it considered report the workers, the among discontent mounting the Concerning complaints”. and doubts several hear can we hand, other the on plan; the for fight to determined are who those are there hand, one “On the good: wasnot mood their political therefore workers; of patience the months tested three past the of overwork continuous the that and plan, the of fulfillment the to attitudes different employees had argued that thereport addition, 301”. In from 338 to has decreased mark Q innovations; this is shown by the fact that the number of our instruments that bear the trade of introduction the to areobstacles there manyplaces In plants. different the between co-operation improve definitely mustso we labor, of organization better with overtime results of plan fulfillmentin December show that we can save a lot of money and reduce des VEB Carl Zeiss Jena, 17 Januar 1969. 533 ThStA Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera,derIV B-2/3/269, Referatdes ökonomischenDirektors This, of course, did not mean the end of the affair. The management of the 533 207 CEU eTD Collection management,andneither did the rhetoric of party.the following In 1970, the problems fulfilled. duringyears Thissituationhave change the last of been not did Gallerach’s people that hadalready gone to limits,theirit and was faultnot their thethat plan couldnot out pointed they immediately performance; ofhigher wascapable Zeiss-collective the that too much. leadership workers factory objectedto politethe energetically hint The party production, care its anddespite military innotrhetoric, toangerthe party the facttook etc.”. are in demand, that articles production of the orders, unmet of a hugenumber are there results, enterprise despite the outstanding performance of our employees. Even though we had good goal, this difficult achieve however,not, We could plan. 1969 the of realization successful ineverything torealize order the 1968plan, aswell as tofulfill pre-requisitesforthe the did they and collective, the of interests the for interests individual their sacrifice to unity andof thepolitics manifested economy. itself in This the willingness of workers the enterprise, helped which understand ouremployees better andapply principlethe of the pay):“We much in invested of improvement the political-ideological workin our planthe (which impliedthat they not be couldwork expected to moreadditional without includingemployees,management,stressing that they everythingdid fulfill they could to sidethe following the month of of took the report becausethe patience testing peoples’ Zeiss-collective”. ourstructural enough intheworkingthe anddon’tunderstood trust ability they of policy Volkswirtschaftsplans 1969, 27Februar 1969. Schlussfolgerungendiefür Führungstätigkeit kontinuierlichender IKL zur Erfüllung des derLeiter bei derGestaltung Erziehung der und des Arbeit ökonomischen Systems des Sozialismuspolitisch-ideologischen der als GanzesProbleme über sowie JENA Zeiss Carl VEB IKL der Bericht 1969. 535 Januar 30 Ganzes, als Sozialismus des Systems ökonomischen des Gestaltung der bei Leiter der Erziehung der und Arbeit politisch-ideologischen der Probleme über JENA Zeiss Carl VEB IKL der Bericht 534 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derNr. IV B-2/3/84, ProtokollSekretariatssitzung,der ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derNr. IV B-2/3/79, ProtokollSekretariatssitzung,der The “battle” was fought at the level of ideology, rather than at the front of front the at than ideology, rather of level at the fought was The “battle” 534 535 The factory party organization, was, however, opposed to further to opposed however, was, organization, factory party The 208 CEU eTD Collection managing which further director, by was undermined failurethe enterprisethe of to into the factory. management economic new the of principles the introduce to fight his in Gallerach helped organs was chiefly limited to the repetition of the same phrases,it is at best doubtful how it each delay other”. to for the responsibility shiftthe overview of the whole production process. Because of this,individual the plants often only managers narrow-mindedly theirdeal with small fields and haveonly they don’t an purposeful information and education of problem employees.the Another is thatpartof the solution for the mobilize problem,the of howreserve they using every can pondering difficulties and they always lookfor excuses for why a given becannottask solved instead identifyto with themselves objectives.the They by explain everything ‘objective’ are unable who manymanagers of are characteristic that mistakes mediocrity; of comfort methods against which and hinder realization the thefight program: the the of outdated managing down, from ideological isthe work, director at following targeted the problems, political- Our been realized. not has theplan, of arrears makeup plan, to war our that enterprise cannot fulfill all itsof orders by the given deadline. In sum,we have concludeto production millionby are 4 Marks butthere significant arrears andthe of exports, to otheris socialistcountries. that by It true 31 economy, which both tothe causes sensitive losses people’s economy of republicthe and people’s the of enterprises debtors among the largest is the of one Jena Carl Zeiss stoppages, and because of “The period: main the fulfillment to obstacle of isthe the 1970plan continual production that we cannot fulfill in enviablesituationthis during whichGallerachan showthat were singledwasnot theout, export plan in time. Today the VEB Sekretärs der IKL Zeiss, 16 April 1970. 536 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV B-2/3/269, Nr. Informationsbericht des 1. The above, ‘friendly’ reprimand was already a sign of the declining authority of the st March 1970 we over-fulfilled industrial 536 Since the consultation with party the with consultation Since the 209 CEU eTD Collection problem”. solve this to in order Jena Carl Zeiss VEB of the mobilize resources the failed to we and project, webadly managedthe thetask, of difficulty the we underestimated admit that threatening the reputation reliable partnerof Sovietthe Union. Ourbehavior undermined this confidence, seriously of a as theitself distinguished VEBalways has GDR The Carl E-system. the of problem the to solution Zeiss Jena in the Sovietfindsatisfactory not a because wecould Union Soviet damage the to significant done Union. We have to “We have leadership: inparty district frontthe of give speech Gallerach aself-critical to forced Theaffair by Union deadline. Sovietthe forto the aproject delivery execute Zeiss des und Generaldirektors des VEB Zeiss überdieCarl Durchführung des Beschlusses desPolitbüros 539 538 1970. 537 battle program of the IKL enterprisethe suchshift theimprovementas work, of labor productivity, The etc. common within be solved to need that tasks the of less much talk they and factors external through and export targets the production The managersmeet cut many costs. problems explain cannot we that out turned clearly it Meanwhile year. the of end the by tasks the fulfill to We decided spirit. fighting a and analysis clear lack we places in many plans, action own failedpredicted, fulfill its to 1970 plan:“Even havethough baseorganizations the their ashadbeenalready enterprise, becausethe badnews reporting of a routine diplomatically arrears amount to 38,3 millionsto Marks”. arrears amount in The export and was 42,3%. production, enterprise result the general export, 40,7% fulfillhowever, 50%of annualthe inplan field.every Weachieved 49,8%in industrial ofwecould real employees our themeasuresweintroduced, situation.not, Despite plants where the managers themselves leadthe took and they informedhonestly the ThStA Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera,der IV B-2/3/150, Bericht des 1. Sekretärs derIKL IKL=Industriekreisleitung (the leadership of the party organizationof the factory). ThStA, Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera. Nr. IVB-2/3/269, Kreisleitungssitzung, 22Mai 537 Gallerach and the first secretary first secretary of Gallerach factory party established and the organization 538 and the top management helped us achieve good resultshelped management inthe usachieve and good top the 539 The national leadership was concerned about concerned was leadership national The 210 CEU eTD Collection from women who would be of enough 492 applications Today nurserieswe keeparecord andkindergartens. are not willing to take up theirwomenwork more– refused to shifts, “which can be explainedby objective there reasons: work again in the significantly improved working conditions, butdespite that, some of – workers the mainly enterprise if they and automation Göschwitz at construction the that itwas reported of workers, the fulfilled theplan by Thelabor hours). plan 550,000 realized”. likewisewas Inrespect not problems; the prefabricating andmounting plants performedvery poorly (they under- producers ofplants allowdid not for sufficient capacity; wasnotenoughthere cooperation between the the various central the partner; Soviet with the were negotiated that parameters technical set the not optical lossesmillions of 50 Marksin plant. Why? instrumentthe are reasons The they that could components; alone production caused is stoppages that processing. result The help data electronic of we could ensured continuous production.muchsolve Ittakes too time to problems, not even the with solve theof the socialistlabor competition.material Efforts to improve labor organizationmanagement havein the not yet formalism style; working careless sometimes and lenient, a discipline, supplylax in management, chaos centralism; democratic realize to failure work; organizational Marxist-Leninist their and management, of qualifications professional in the deficiencies following: the are mistakes These management. of mistakes the of because mainly of the enterprise according to the principles of the NES: “The export plan was not fulfilled management reform to the was mission Gallerach’s thefactthat intoaccount when wetake personnel, top responsibility the reportstressedthe remarkable thatthe of particularly also than before, blaming the entire management of the enterprise for the repeated failures.Zeiss’s It ispoor performance.A report at the end of yearthe expressed even stronger criticism Durchführung des Volkswirtschaftsplanes 1969/1970 im VEB Zeiss,Carl 1 Oktober1970. vom zu Problemen 26.5.1970. des Leistungstätigkeit Planungs- und Zusammenhangim mitder 211 CEU eTD Collection followed from the policy of theparty”. of policy from the followed that expectations higher met the Zeiss Carl VEB the ensure that to unable therefore have engageinformation the fundamental to witheconomic plans, andmanagementwere andachievement efficiency. especially Theelections showedusthatnot employees the do foreign and of managers development research, of the departments the judgment, and colleagues trade of the managingeven director: “Today we have faceto a number of ideological problems. In my today work political the hecriticized in which secretary, party district tothe letter a personal sent do not organization party factory the of secretary first 1971 the of At beginning againstthe him. understand attacks political the whichstrengthened been for weakeningof position, the Ulbricht’s not leadership, hadit of central party the “prove himself worthy”of trust the chance to that what we need here primarily is criticism that the chief manager received from the central from chiefleadership criticism thatmanagerreceived the party central the the Bucharest international fair”. international Bucharest the at Oberkochen pseudo-enterprise” German “West the of representation the about collected stressedforgotten ininformation situation: even that all thiscritical thereport was actual task, the political leadership of political the actual leadership people”. the of task, about their forget busy with they organizations,tasks production while only, are which “wenumber base leadership of in terms: have a similar gave restof the local the party to could solve their child careproblems”. child their solve could VEB Carl Zeiss JENA für das Jahr 1970, quoteddes in: Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith Hellmuth,Geschäftsbericht op. cit1231, Nr. VA (UACZ), Jena GmbH, Jena Zeiss Carl der Unternehmensarchiv work. 544 Bezirksleitungssitzung, Auswertung der 15. Tagung des ZK SED.der 1 Februar 1971. 543 1971. Februar 17 BL (Bezirksleitung), der Sekretär 1. den an JENA Zeiss Carl VEB des IKL/SED der Sekretärs 542 541 Sekretärs der IKL Zeiss, 12 November1970. 540 He was likewise criticized forhis disregard of the leading role of the party and his negligence of political ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IVB-2/1/19, Protokoll der ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera. Nr. IV B-2/3/283, PersönlicherBrief des 1. Ibid. ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV B-2/3/269, Nr. Informationsbericht des 1. Despite the enterprise’s difficult situation, Gallerach might have received onemore have received might Gallerach situation, difficult enterprise’s the Despite 541 540 542 The aspects of class struggle were not, however, The district party secretary he finished aspeech party secretary Thedistrict 543 This – at least in the light of the 544 - could have -could ., 215-216. 212 CEU eTD Collection generalized attack against the reformers. It is worth adding that inis criticism thisrespectthe that It worth againstadding reformers. the attack generalized the waspartof of rhetoric the work precedenceoverpolitical took economic tasks creativity which responsibility. the government, vested with tremendous enterprise was not one of statedthe it and thatstrengths director managing the criticized thestrongly report Their VEB enterprise. the of situation the Carl ofZeiss East Jena Germanfailed At beginningthe investigateindustry. sent a commission Committee of 1970the Central to to fulfillparty its state of central tothe jargon;administration belonged enterprise becausethe leadership party obligations the to thecharge party and thatthe Zeiss can fully exploit the local workforce”. VEB Carl the that so morenurseries kindergartens and open council to city wouldlike the We the newcomers. for in attractive make city the settling tryingIn addition, to weare %. fluctuation2 decrease 4%of thenew present to towin neighborhood, andto over people inthe tomobilize every reserve everything inorder Thesecretariatdoes graduates. inshortage: need1971 we1708full-timemainly employees, and skilled workers college arrears and fulfilllabormakebig is ourearlier haveto obligations. Our upexport problem because thedespite factwehaveof industrial that goods increasedproduction wehaveto demands of byfor country between the theperiod as stipulated 1971 and1974, party the of the people’s economy of the GDR for scientific instruments. We simply cannotmeet the the present conditions of efficiency and production capacity – cannot satisfy the demands “Despitemuch wethinkhis positive factory the under thatover report: this development, – in 1971thaninbefore, year first the sothe secretary ponderneed IKLof the to not did been addressed Gallerachto as well.The economic results of the enterprise were notbetter 546 Sekretärs der IKL Zeiss, 10 März 1971. 545 Geschäftsbericht des VEB Carl Zeiss JENA für das Jahr 1970, op. cit ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV B-2/3/283, Nr. Informationsbericht des 1. Gallerach’s eventual removal was decided at ahigher political level than the local 545 . 546 Linguistic 213 CEU eTD Collection that the party workers. material givethat to party to the was forced concessions significant conclude freeze, with to we have a wage reform launched fact that the had been originally with the this we compare plan. If inthe fulfilling its leastsuccessful atwas Zeiss factory a timethe when at wages increasing workers’ side, their took organization factory party different treatment: received totally spare workers the management, the not of party did the While therhetoric no-one blamed them forstrict party discipline,shortfall then we have to assume that this discipline was not that strictin at all. production,in Junelike competition if were published happened something only; this have could under on the contrary,tension the of point A similar mistakes. professional his of could because not and resignation Ulbricht’s be seen after wasdismissed director managing –the inconsequences long-term serious nohad the complaintbut affair the speech, in failure self-critical a the Gallerach admitted client, itseven Soviet that disappointed When enterprise the them. the than remove spirit, rather combative necessary the January lacked themanagerswho “re-educate” aimedto party organizations inthe made writing: results of in ever weresuch criticisms, wasnochange there proposals peopleneither managing, the the socialistself- and criticisms, failures, repeated the despite that is remarkable it Firstly, tension. labor by in era GDRwascharacterized the reform the that shows which military rhetoric, Hungary, one may harbor doubts as to his liberalism,his deeds often seem contradictto the in speeches. his later mentioned life ever was inparty phenomena negative noother because theparty within conflicts the showed –clearly of employees education political the about” “forgot organizations party several that inpublic–namely, he stated that secretary first of district the 547 On the wage policy of the GDR in the 1960s see: Hübner, op. cit Despite the fact that when we compare Gallerach’s statements with the situation in with situation the statements when Gallerach’s we compare factthat the Despite . , 77-88. 547 214 CEU eTD Collection the party in documentsworkers of lives everyday the about information much not is there that ofbe admitted to the period: the materials usingperiod books minute investigation in the of an conducted instrumentthe Ithas plant. of the ismanagement, secondthe examine part anattemptto attitudes working-class the during Planning theimpossible? Aninvestigation in the instrument plant between the party and the working class. dialogue of akind was there and emerged, least at questions these -that regime Honecker “consolidated” tothe when compared reform of ameritparticularly the era – rate, criticisms, or how far it question how far the reform would– haditbeen continued – would have addressed these have engaged workersconcentration in on theirdecision-making. anger at shortages might suggest. It remains, of course, a theoretical a than workers, criticismsocialism the state among of It and deep-rooted substantial was, at any more was there that revealed they and reform, economic the linked to not any rate, at management lackproduction ofinformation (the about tasks)were, andplans plan-related socialism?”we getfrom “whatdo higherbodies. The toof question socialism sincerely reported - was and existing” the“actually of criticism negative rather the even commentssometimes and – workers the regarding isspeak of among discontent it liberalization, we cannot though political that remarkable the formal role of the workers in enterprise that offers insights into the everyday life of people. See, for instance, the collection: Ina Merkel (ed.), ‚ (ed.), Ina Merkel collection: the instance, for See, people. of life everyday the into insights offers that 549 548 lost and letters of complaint Correspondence between the authorities and ordinary citizens constitute a very interesting type of source of type very interesting a constitute citizens ordinary and authorities the between Correspondence Commission that mediated labor conflicts in the GDR. While the first part of this chapter examined the effects of reform on the factory The reform era can be therefore regarded as a period of experimentation. Even of experimentation. asaperiod regarded be therefore era can The reform 549 that survived in large numbers mainlyaddressedthe numbers that survivedinlarge Konfliktkommission 548 have been 215 Wir CEU eTD Collection absurdities in the production. The inquiry in the turners’ shop, for instance, concluded: instance, for shop, turners’ in the inquiry The production. in the absurdities such atsystem tolerated precisely which that wastargeted because their criticism remarkable, more the all was which labor, of organization the of in terms experienced they that deficiencies the and superiors their criticize to afraid not were plant instrument the in workers books, minute the to According retribution. managerial from criticism justified made even who protect those notcould party the that thought because they managers Gy is by their It from contemporary superiors. that documents interesting party comparison of deception the with even and incompetence with charged they whom managers, their partyitis, and members however,remarkable workers that grassroots criticized furiously held; were conversations the which in conditions the about information no give obviously books managersworkers. The minute many from indifferentto positions, people factory the leadership. party of in aspeechfront performance also of managing plant this thepoor criticized director instrumentexamine bad which strikingly situationin the plant, the The results. produced by The investigation conducted party to the commission that workers. appointed was a and the party between the relationship of the they problems speak of the from period, the materials party toother contrast because incomplete sources, auniqueset of constitute minute provincial transferred books of tothe investigation archive. Thesurviving 1969 the even not were materials these onwards, from 1970s the reports; statistical are simply their unbearableliving conditions. Alarge numberof factory party organization documents alleviate to director managing the asked latter the or employees the of problem housing 550 Schwarzkopf, 2000). sind nochnicht die Meckerecke der Nation.’ Briefean das Fernsehen derDDR Protokollder IKL-Sitzung, 15 und 18 August 1969, Ę r-Sopron county, on the contrary, reported that the workers were afraid to criticize wereafraid workers to the that reported contrary, the county, on r-Sopron The members of the commission visited several departments departments and they with talked visited several The members of commission the 550 op., cit op., . (Berlin: Schwarzkopf & 216 CEU eTD Collection discipline loosened during the reform duringdiscipline loosened reform the era. ideological assume that have to nevertheless, we, commission, a party of presence the in all at voiced was criticism this however, If, opinions. express their to for workers place no were meetings party the that and reality, hadnobasison ideology of regime the the plant and the managers did what they wanted instrument in the discipline no was there that he complained while statements: Gallerach’s favorite the of one was - fact” in the lie reasons “the - phrase the irony: expressionsaccidental or intentional in ideological language inbetween often andsocial the of workers resulted experience party documents. contrast The regime. Honecker underthe wereunthinkable workers and between officials A similar of differences the formulations such any open meet sign criticism: we hardly open of contrast documents party German East In party. bythe was created that a commission members of can be found in some of changed”. are always at which norms, The plan donot totheregular allcorrespond each tasks contradict other. completely often they and next, the to day one from changed being are instructions “Theitisthink workers impossiblework that properly to under these conditions. The 554 553 552 551 here that nothing will change, everything will stay same”. the will stay everything nothing will change, here that think many factlie in that comrades never the make The anycomments. reasons workers At highstandard.leadersa particularly meetings officialsandthestate these speakonly, muchatmosphere that they speakso meetings Neitherarethe about. of of party the groups where they say nice things us, butto nothing happensafterwards. Nobody feels fightingthe “Theleaders: APO-leaders Protokollder IKL-Sitzung, 15 und 18 August 1969, op., cit. Bericht, APO-Leitung, 19September 1969. Abteilungsparteiorganization. ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV B-4/13/79, Bericht, 19September 1969. What makes the comments especially interesting is that the workers told them told workers them to is the that interesting especially makes comments the What 551 Workers in the turners’ shop had a low opinion of had in alow Workersshop theirof party the opinion turners’ 552 and the party and summon regular party the meetings to people groups 554 , here it was the workers who revealed that 553 217 CEU eTD Collection machines hasbeen at astandstill eversince inhardening the which isfrequently shop, outputs, withoutasking the turners’ if shop machined these could be used: “One of the example,management arguedthat had lathes, boughttwo turner’s whichhad high very for Turners, superiors. of their incompetence professional perceived addressed the directly butworkers inopinions, workers’ managers of lack ofinterest the general than for needforhad the party. party workers workers had agreater paid had beginningit hismembership), not then seems thefull party at the of dues the that in X (who invested stress it much necessary comradehow persuading they considered to to do so, and he even spoke of hisintention resignto from the party. If the party group still did worker the notbudge onthequestion payingof party dues, despite exhortations daily opinions in Muchparty isdocuments. ideological revealed about discipline bythefact that some certain detect because people usually –probably represented unintentional –irony party, he is free to terminate his membership whenever he wants to”. he wants whenever his membership toterminate heisfree party, pay 3 Marks onlyand now he maintains he won’t pay a penny. he Even though joined the to wanted nature beginning,his he every day. the appeal better In to to The comrades tried out thathepaid only of 2,5 Marksinstead In month11,85. this he should pay17Marks. turned it January in Already year. a over for Zeiss in turner a as employed been has who X, instance, case of comrade the for Let’s take, of party dues. payment overthe comrades many with disputes permanent have we example, for respects, many in deficiencies ideological “serious they reported, “Weexperience”, can onworkers. involuntarily party includingand the workers, the practice of simply thrustingmembership party the between relationship tense the muchof which reveal deficiencies”, “ideological other (Industriekreis-Parteikontrollkommission), GDREH 1, 19September1969. 555 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera.Nr. IV B-4/13/79, Bericht derIKPKK Workers’ criticism of management was not only – or not primarily – targeted at the This argument is strengthened by the fact that the investigation detected several is by factThis argument theinvestigation detected that the strengthened 555 Here we can also 218 CEU eTD Collection from from nerves andwhilehe members of talkedthe with commission,the holdnot hecould suffered apparently plant instrument party) of the was amemberof the (who economist one minute books, According tothe be cannot calledenviable. workers, higher than the ideological work to be work atall. difference shop-floor”. the beseen on hardly between can of organization, social every leaders including the leading officials, that everywhere worker ideological asunproductive: they “People work that much regarded complain with and too leaders wereoccupied thought their on contrary, workers, the the economic tasks, official,busy with too allegedly becausetheywere work party neglecting for criticized managers of reform While opponents time”. right the machine at it on the piece right for the arrange revealed enough and because material, thereisnot they casting, cannot breaks chiefly inproduction that“There arealways material: supply of andthe labor organization were problems with the workerssome support, as was shown by the results of the investigationin the other plants that there much leader,havebut sharedheretrospect how the opinion did workers party the the of did not hold machines in inhisshop of support his criticism. formanagerscriticized disregarding andheevenanalyzed the opinions, the workers’ norms maintenance Hefrequently spent with the stoppages, andproduction changed, too. increased time andbecauseof the wasted, hardwas alotwhich of currency, machine cost the that commented shop, in mill the worked who organization, base the of leadership sabotage”. is whetheritoutright or incompetent completely is They management whether the discussed among workers. the understand don’t provide for. provide 559 558 557 556 Many interview partners said that the workers considered the functionaries to be idlers whom they had to had they whom beidlers to functionaries the considered workers the that said partners interview Many Ibid., Bericht (APO-Leitung). Ibid., Bericht (Gen. R.és Gen T. GO-Leitungsmitglieder). Ibid., Bericht (GDREH 1, Y, Abteilungsleiter). The situation of the East German managers, on whom political pressure was much pressurewas managers,whom political on German East of the The situation 559 558 Even though such criticism mitigated the social 557 Of course, itbein cannot determined Of course, 556 One member of the party 219 CEU eTD Collection fulfilled their plan for eight years constantovertime work. weekend for and fulfilled eight running, despite their plan widespread skepticism among didunderstand Workers people. not had why not they by The manager information the was reinforced there saidprovided economist. that the increasedjust by 48%. managementhad given significantmaterial concessions to the workers, for labor costs had meetisit The possible all their doubtwhether and many targets”. at to colleagues years for eight plan the fulfilled has not plant “the instrument that declared also economist all his patch is time”. whilenewonesarecreated the My job In testimony up holes the to top. the at is overburdened everybody why that’s above, from be decided to has Everything tasks. everyday solve to be able to position in the not are they therefore and management instrumentplantfailed tosolve the professional and political training middlethe of andneitherfulfill contracts, material can supply the manage they of The properly. middlemanagement:deliver and among keeptothe deadlinesto orders “They the don’t professionals enough not were there that statements workers’ confirmed economist the sametime Atthe state”. within the is astate department this that Z commented comrade know not their This anideological isunambiguously In work. problem. respect, this he because does understandcalculations, their from cannot outside comes who economist an opinionthe that keep Thecolleagues15% of represent norms. official the not to they do department, Marks.Inthe distribution home who 1400 bring areworkers rocketing, there wagesare the is that result The hundred. of one out cases inthree norms official the norms and of keep to wagesheets.In the shopthey arechanged theon25% grinding the keep not 33% of technologicalthe “They working toappeasetheworkers: do order plans, several in irregularities managers overlooked that back testimony His revealed his tears. 560 Bericht der IKPKK (Gen. Z, Ökonom), op., cit. The conversation with the technical manager of the instrument plant fundamentally plant instrument the manager of thetechnical with The conversation 560 220 CEU eTD Collection frequently earned less than them. less than earned frequently becausethey workers, for the respect have not sufficient managersdid production toinformal always rises. addedthat technical manager direct The the consented wage wantconflictDirect managerswith production didnot workers; consequently they the work plans in grindingthe andmounting shops,and this explained high average wages. noconcrete therewere that manager commented the rocketing wages, to the respect With 564 563 562 in beginning the of the 1970s. 561 the plant in a day in order to cope withcope in to in planttheirthe daily tasks. order aday his according information to manager“professional” every atleast spent12to14hours in could not leave without comment: leavenot “howcould without can party someone leadabrigade without named after the “Sixth can make shortfall”. up the workshop the Congress” did shifts becauseof householdtheir That’s duties. why we havenospecial notfor how program attend party in work to who refuse many women workers, meetings, are becausethere particularly shiftextra which theproduction managercommission do the calculations. The most important ideological obstacle is the wants only finishto his asquicklywork as possible andtheylet the brigadier or directthe clearly tell would which everybody project, a common of know don’t they but fulfillment, plan in what shortfalls are they shouldthere that know workers “The doinstructions. in changing on kept order they and inconsistently, and to work better. Therefore everybody themselves write their own time sheets”. their own write themselves colleagues arefalse” every the “despite instruction, of and documents technological the “35%forin example, shop the grinding hadqualifications, hadthenecessary managers not casesproduction when mentioneddirect concrete leadership baseorganization of the Ibid., Bericht (Gen. Q, PO). Ibid., Bericht (Gen. N, GO-Leitung). Bericht der IKPKK (K, technischerLeiter der GB), op., cit. managers production direct the of wages thelow criticized also factory Rába ofthe organization party The According to workers in the polishing workshop the management acted hurriedly managementacted the in workshop workers polishing Accordingthe to 561 He also complained about managers’ workloads: 563 564 Furthermore, the brigadier of brigade brigadier of the the Furthermore, 562 One member of party the member of One 221 CEU eTD Collection many grass-roots members many secretary the beof hardly in could grass-roots baseorganization the seen plan for the elections of 1969 was “nowhere to be found”. According to the information of and partyleadership of the recorded were often not campaign baseorganization the the of meetings the “ideological moreproblems”: meetings. regular party Therewereevidently hold not likewise did their workers brigade: Congress” “Sixth thanthe results better of boast life,not could mill shop toparty paid the With by was better respect enterprise. the it out turned they that weekend instead undertook work of secondthe becauseonly shiftit in themselves. Workers millingthe denouncedthe shop “Sixth Congress” brigade aswell: at samehigher pay the revealedthat they naively for time preparatory received work, they needed time the themanagers underestimated workers the to According was inconsistent. ofmaterial and supply size, not the the right of were had plant received the components work continuously because not the could complainedphenomena: they that workers the mean too much extra work for them. be membership to they candidates, saying party that asked would refused, workers three the eleven members of inbrigade: outof his the of problems party-work concerning accomplished.also spoke He the brigade only two were 800extra alongside hours they that hours hadalready thebrigade 1200 undertook members of the party Congress” “Sixth the factthat tothe called attention brigadier the In addition, plan”. and when they if they need extra shifts. All of these are factors that make itimpossible for us to realize the only workshop the to come managers responsible job; the the on experience wereput work sufficient without trainees high; too is plan brigade the today; case the not is which stores, supplies“poor materials; muchof too inadditional work; oldthe times they for produced information?”. 566 565 Ibid. Ibid., Bericht (Gen. L, Brigadier). 565 The brigadier listedthefollowing problems in the in workshop his reply: 566 The investigation in the mill shop revealed similar revealed shop mill inthe investigation The 222 CEU eTD Collection shouldbe moved to one floor, which would bealready an achievement.” plant the area of in the scattered located are that offices various him, the to According the plant and of offices various betweenthe km 1 often travel contracts “the bureaucracy; criticized also he knows of Court. examplesLabor the with experiences when contractsit of again,his do because to hefulfillbut refused not plan, the becausethey did managers simplyproduction wagesof direct three cutthe once for example, means. havetheHe, not did got lost during be maintainthem expectedflats. The managers, heargued,couldnotif to disciplinethey their trip.give not come could not theenterprise eventually did because promised 50designers, who Zeiss was that commented laconically manager technical The plant’s plan”. of the respect in deficit increasing ever is an if there sense makes work their whether asking on keep though they worked a lot on the E-system workers, inworkers, four GDRtherethe perevery wereonly hundred. plant In 1966, the only hundredevery one to technicians eight were there while worldwide lacktechnicians: of the forgivable ineveryinstrumentplant. Heexplained difficultiesthe of production through of the following month. According to one of the managers, such manipulation was little work or minor parts were missing that could have been completed before the 10th day if be and transferred completed to werereported goods the Thus, of plant. leadershipthe party entire the to known was practice this and 1959, since enterprise ofthe accounts the was invited many come. times to workshops:the in previousthe year heattended the mill shop only once even though he 570 569 568 567 Ibid., Bericht (Gen. A, Mitglied der GO-Leitung). Ibid., Bericht (K, technischerLeiter derGB). system. data Electric Ibid., Bericht (GFRÄS1). The employees criticized the results of the factory in other fields as well. Even The investigation also revealed that transferred goods hadin goods The investigation revealedbeenalso transferred that falsely recorded 567 569 One party leader of the base organization of the plant 568 , their effort did not bear fruit: “The employees 570 223 CEU eTD Collection conscientiouslytheir old because of loyalty to Zeiss, butnotbecauseofpolitical reward; their rightful get should butthey a rest, have can people now and realized beenalready has socialism that believe of workers the “Part quoting the summary W,comradeof whosingled thefollowing out in problems plant: the decides”. manager the toeverything readily agrees plantleadership of the here,party that change the will Nothing right. arealways leaders state the because something, criticize let alone “A workers: lotmaking much of no being talk without is decided. There point comments, the the party meetings the similarly of leadership party leaderto Another evaluated is individual centrally onthe plants”. the shifted responsibility then and organized many similar cases. According comradeto D this has nothing doto with planning, chaos is iscompleteworkshop wecannot our products.This closed, isjustone example of out depend and gettheworkpieces hardeningthe on shop since wedon’t becausethe The production plant. southern inthe now only open will shop new the while ago, year half plant main the of a numberin wasclosed shop hardening One the management. example: central the responsibility of of plants,if pre-requisitesthe aremissing.According comradeD to missingthe pre-requisites are the includingeven plans the to consent to but choice no have managers The more. millions 2-3 demand the instrumentgive our preliminary estimates for the plan, they frequently refuse to acceptplan, them and they everything andevenmorekeep in than toredstarburning.the they can order Whenwe does, however,into managementthe manipulation: this of do plant the “The managersareexpectedto forced from above arguethatthepolitical as far pressure of went leadership asto party the still 50 designers missing,whocome did not because ofalack housing.of employedby 20 1969 theirhad increasednumbertechnicians, by were 70-80% butthere 573 572 571 Ibid., Bericht (Gen. H). Ibid., Bericht (Gen. D). Ibid., Bericht (Gen. W). 573 With respect to the relationship between the party and the factory itis worth factory the party and the between relationship With tothe respect many colleagueswork 571 One member 224 572 CEU eTD Collection even when the enterprise had very plan results. hadvery poor even enterprise the when a ispay increase, workers gave That whythefactory demands. recognize their economic management plant,they the successfulmanagement in of were more persuading the to participate couldnot be meaningfullyinthe even though workers arguedthat the can It system. wage official the of subversion the overlooked they why explains probably and this workers, skilled needed theexperienced managers undoubtedly technicians, of Becauseshortages of payfor work. weekend because good received they for workers, but money work also meant extra not only extra material consequence of raw shortage, the at allbad inposition wasnot which Production the stoppages, plant. workers the were of “minor” thatthebargaining irregularities inwage whichsuggests overlooked calculation, indeed andthey workers, tothe concessions material several offered managers the – workers but failure onto for shift responsibility the to noattempt instance, was,for there policy the pronounced whichitself inworkers, notonly manifested towards – ideology is twocentral Thefirstthe argumentof chapter. arguments regimethe that the hada they could. The conversations with people in indifferent positions did, however, reinforce asfar center the as responsibility toshiftonto managers attempted the the management, instrumentplant, andis itsurprisingnot likewise that while blamed workers the the etc.)”. rocketing wages, keep discipline (badnorms, andtheycan’t with technical regulations the unfamiliar are managers production direct many plan; the fulfill to impossible is it and high requirementsaretoo the economic they aboutcolleagues that have policy, think our doubts category consciousness inthedefenseofapolitical standpoint onthebasistheir classor of 575 574 Bericht der IKPKK (Gen. W), op., cit. Welche Probleme sieht der Betriebsleiter? der sieht Probleme Welche cit. op., W), (Gen. IKPKK der Bericht is mine. Stress 575 Many negative commentscanbe explained through bad results in economic the 574 ; since the collective could not fulfill the plan for eight years, many of our 225 CEU eTD Collection secretary maintained, it was not an existential question for them.an it question existential was not maintained, secretary workers, for andnecessarily asthe Hungarian advantageous wasnot membership party muchtoo weighton this,forfactory never Zeiss the was stronghold. a Communist Party place cannotjoinone begto party.the Yet workers had to factory party the organization and persisted, party the towards workers the of antipathy) outright (or distrust the of much nationalization of theirfactory. Theinvestigation in theinstrument plant suggeststhat social policy enterprise the of majority the had workers of been disappointedwith the special becausethe of that itwas argued not a“typical”factory: course, of was, enterprise members did party –whereworker –dogmatism workers rhetoric militantdespite andinflexible to not pay party dues, or regular party meetings were not held. The Zeiss highest (65-70%) among those,who were excluded from the party terminatedor their membership. 576 official propaganda promoted it. If leaders voiced such heretical thoughts, thenit seems it. suchheretical thoughts, If leaders promoted voiced official propaganda that way the in class working the like categories abstract than factory, the with more identified themselves Zeissianers olderOften respected. party the was that demonstrate keep any really redstarburningthe not did at to wereexpected price managers grass-roots statements of notonly by surprisingly open is This the later. became supported itera, than party members, reform criticism the during to was more responsive party the then of commission, a party but members of infront make comments these to afraid not were people If regime. Honecker also that indeed and entirely of party consolidation documents, the the they disappeared with of the partyrather, leaders. issuch stressing criticism It or that aspronounced. worth regarded thisworkers difference The commentthe least at - or andofficials workers the between difference a pronounced was there that that revealed rate, any the at opinions, in workers’ interested not leaders were state that criticism The East German party statistics is similar to the Hungarian in that the proportion of the workers was the any The second argument is that the party was forced to give small political concessions give forced small to political party is was the that The secondargument kind of criticism of the party very German in be East the kind detected could rarely party of the criticism of 576 Frequently voiced Frequently 226 CEU eTD Collection meaningful meaningful social dialogue wasclosed off. Inthelight of rigidthe ideological dogmatism GermanEast reform andattempt -with – Honecker’s takeover possibilitythe a of Ulbricht insisted on the full implementation of the NES. did dareto not furtherwhile EastGerman risk leadership chaos, the the take of experiment His resignation put an end to the of economic prospect of the all.in at any level Frightened “masses” a dialogue on the comparison with the Hungarian sources, in the GDR the party found it difficult to engageexclusively. onrepression insteadrelying of discourse, boundaries of officially-permitted widen the soughtindeed to during party periodthe suggesteconomic of that experimentation the of regime) Honecker the tothose (as compared sources informative surprisingly the direction. was undoubtedly Workers’ discontent settle exploited to political differences, but in this points work political and collective of leadership ideological the neglected managers and phrasesomeleast that frequently organizations party the atrepeated hardliners; worried party the within liberalization of signs addition, In the Geradistrict. the whole of mounting discontent of the population, which was reflected in information reports from the opponents of reform referred not only to events in Czechoslovakia, but also to the and party.The divisions they deepened the within goods, of shortages the consumer The endofthe experiment GDR. started to believe that andpeople period, party the during liberalization this someappeared within that signs of they could express their opinions even in the rigid climate of the One reason why it is difficult to judge how open this discourse could be is thatin The plansover-ambitious tautof years last the of increased reform the undoubtedly 227 CEU eTD Collection Schäfer shoe factory of Erfurt, for instance, it is the responsibility of the management and management of the is it responsibility the instance, for Erfurt, of factory Schäfer shoe the “In speech: his in mentioned already he had that shoes of example the using precisely of de-centralization advantages the illustrate to more attempt one made professor the goods, of consumer shortages increasing of his Despite admission task”. this can realize districtleadershipparty of success the that how we Congressdependson Party Eighth the face infronthere, of wehave declare that Iconsciously And, the to today. comrades, parts, in short, we have to satisfy the needs of population, that is the main question and task children’sspare fruits, clothes and consumer products, goods, greengrocery,food daily work today.provide We have to stable for the supply andcontinuous peopleof with basic iscontinuous supply consumerof thefundamental goods andof decisive question our industries a consumer goods’ and services,sothatwecanprovidethepopulation do. This means that aboutmuch topicthe you a conversation anddistrict more know inthis I that than I think the struggle that these articles. Iwon’t even mention shoesthe now,we the problem came upyesterday during continue in order satisfy for Hecontinued:“Wehe demand the wares”,admitted. carriages, cannot and table to fulfill the plansuch as housewares, electrical products, furniture, heaters,sewing-machines, baby targets for population andwith a regular supplyof bakery variousdrinks, products industrial goods triumphalist reports that abounded in East German party materials.“We cannotprovide the usual tothe was in sharp contrast that situation evaluation of the gaveacritical actually admitted he policy, economic failure of party’s speech the the concluding and guest the In his Politbüro. the a member of Hager, Kurt byProfessor was attended meeting leadership, consider which was held to resolutions from Eighth the Congress. The Party party district the of meeting a recall to illuminating is it classics), Marxist from quotations the “compulsory” with – interspersed yearsame phrases the very year repeated from to leaders party the from 1970s(where the party the of characteristic becameincreasingly that 228 CEU eTD Collection rheumatism for the rest of their lives and instead they’ll feel comfortable in their comfortable feel they’ll instead and lives their of rest the for rheumatism contract don’t they that so employees the for conditions working and living normal factories, ismodern wherelaborproductivity oreven higher, 100% weshould for provide Surely, canfind one explanations or enough reasons butIthinkif that havesuch we problem? Do we havewait to for aquarter of a year, or even more until it canbe arranged? inwho this nocouldyou,technologists solve and thisplant, engineers arethere comrades: poor creatures have tothis plantsit there are mainlyin women workers,this who mostly havehorrible to sit – am I right? – and the But comrades, this is a very serious hereproblem, wearebuilding amoderndraught factory, and in and noise factory! inthe problem yetduring the solve not could they that comrades the with conversation the whole day. I draught,ask and besides, there was an awful noise in the workshop. And today I learn from the andmy aching. back started Iasked workersthe how inthey work can horrible this in workers of placeone the wherestood the of I weeks ago, eight six factory or electronics Ivisited amicro- “Comrades, andabasis legitimacy: category of reference abstract of an becameonly “working class” regimethe undertheHonecker policy party,the while of in the present “realistically” very were workers the time at that that revealed ideologically, naïve somewhat be may it though even which, visits, factory his of one of astory tell however, Hagerdid, torelax Professor mood, Inorder later. the even topics avoided these spoke of the fall of the reform, or the resignation of Ulbricht -local sources carefully Ulbricht’s structural policy,sought toincrease which investment first. however,be The in increase not, Industry”. rapidreconciled could with consumption Light of Ministry the of that not and produce they shoes of sort what decide to workers the In the light of East German ideological discipline it is not surprising that no one 229 CEU eTD Collection problem problem Zeissnot the relationshipthe of andtheparty. between was though Even workers of the spoke functionaries the when last time era wasthe reform GDRthe the caseof the in than less Lastly, proprietors, themselves Hungarians. the German as regarded workers East the that evidence enough gives plant instrument the in investigation the ownership, even in the factories. Even though EastGermanthe speaksources didnot of socialist matter official the contrary opinions to didnot socialist -workers’ phrases of propaganda - that and did, they than better lived strata other that arguing system the of criticism similar essentially an formulated they Secondly, reform. economic the of criticism used the countries both of workers the Firstly, similarities. opportunitymany shows workers among reception in their andHungary, GDR the to reform of economic types the between differences express were there though Even class. working the and party the between relationship theirpolitical discontentof radical renewal within the party; itself a pre-condition of any attempt to reformulatewith the yearsthe of the NES, it issystem difficult to tell to what extentlast the of characteristic was party the within increased criticism Sincethere goods. consumer that was a real chance forpointed a process criticism andhowthey havewould addressedproblems thatwentbeyond shortage the of beyond any difficult judgefar rate, how to would thebeen party further have to responsive disappeared from the sources, but any debate of the role of the workers rolenarrative. in professor’s pronounced the did, too. It is, at a received also idea of heart the andbesides, emancipation welfare at had workers’ the demonstrate they that itto necessary considered leadership party highest the striking that workplace”. die ArbeitderBezirksparteiorganisationen, 19 Juli 1971. Bezirksleitungssitzung, Die sich ausdenBeschlüssen de VIII. Parteitages ergebenden Schlussfolgerungenfür 577 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IVB-2/1/20, Protokoll der With the consolidation of the Honecker regime it was not only criticism that 577 The story could be of course conscious propaganda, but even then it is 230 CEU eTD Collection membership, thereby demonstrating the party’s refusal inability)change. (and to silencing any effectively criticism, adialogue grass-roots prevented even amongst the under“their” Honecker regime,loyal factory. the while to repression massive The efficiency of the omnipotent East German state, especially as, in Zeiss workers remained In workers. canindeedthis the the always among aspectone doubt prestige carry of workers the to pay party the dues. Itcan be thus assumed party that membership didnot beg had to party andthe become candidate-members to refused brigade Congress” “Sixth notan existential question tothem.is It quite telling, forinstance, that three workers of the was membership party be thatagain the it stressed from should and a distanceparty, the keep consciously to manytried that workers suggest factory, sources the a “representative” 231 CEU eTD Collection celebration of the topical state holidays. Even though holidays. speeches the celebration of leaders of Eventhough party state topical the the production planessentially fulfillment inform and onlyaboutthe of the results us targets, materials district of party the half ofthe From 1970s, the second the consumer goods. by of andstable provision with wouldbe required the continuous the people decided heedCongress Party the Eighth the Hager that took successof ofthe warningof Professor leaders party the district, of the committee of executive the meetings of the books minute silence). their for least at (or loyalty political their social policy”: the party promised of livinga higherstandard tothe people inexchange for of-living call policy though Honecker preferredeven to itof “unity the and economic the 578 increases. counter-revolutionary inattempts socialistother countries such with Polandas started such priceconsequently to opposed increases, he which defendedwith all argumentthe that policy,consumption-oriented new, this of spirit inthe whichpower to came Honecker investment. he sought whilelowered forconsumer they goods increase targets theplan to decided leadership to follow party the of population the discontent mounting the of Frightened policy. economic new until the endof the economic reform had political consequences: Ulbricht resigned inof protest against the his regime:fall more in critical GDRwherethe the was policy. situation The of standard-of-living the he was, announcement with the workers the from criticism to responded government secretary, the for instance, André Steiner, op. cit., 2004, 190. In many aspects the recipe worked only too well in the GDR. Judged from well from only in the GDR.Judged therecipeworked the too In manyaspects Even in Hungary where the economic reform did not shake the position of the first the of position the shake not did reform economic the where in Hungary Even 578 It seems that the East German “recipe” was similar to the Hungarian standard- Hungarian tothe wassimilar German “recipe” East the Itseems that 6. LaborPolicy in theDistrict 232 CEU eTD Collection living “in exchange” for a much more suffocating political climate. political suffocating more a much for exchange” “in living regimeHonecker diditindeed precedetheprovided Hungarians: for ahigher standard of of consumers’sources, it seemsneeds that they themselves rendered party leaders sawno believed disturb piecethe mind reason to of of theirsuperiors. Judgedfrom the their own propaganda the that the satisfactionpeople satisfied with the system. In this sense the they even referred to 17 June 17 to referred even they with and threatened a strike workers getthe not premium,did the a Silbitz plant guard of as While inwell. it1972 havehappened when could that members the of oldthe factory expectations over-fulfill ideological the victory; succeededto however, Congress to they, lead Eighth Party the to over-zealous partyleaders wereevidently the already argued that was It latter. the of that about than former the of class working the about information more scattered There was goods). consumer with people of the of provision the reports continuous the disregard we (if county Hungarian the of that than district German East the of leadership party of the meetings in the much less were discussed issues labor-related asaclass. workers the even they notfeel that leaders of a needtoaddress did suggest dogmatic party speeches the The ideology. official in the emphasis decreasing ever an received them emancipating of idea the and party, the of perspective the from even reality social its lost class working the also from the rhetoric of the party. Itseems that with the new, consumption-oriented policy but documents party onlyfrom the not disappeared category; real workers as an abstract abounded in from Marxistquotations classics,the“working class”wasincreasingly used 580 uprising. 579 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera. Nr. IV C-2/6/441. an with increases price and norms higher the against protested workers German East the 1953 June 17 On Interestingly, even though the party had a pronounced social policy towards labor, towards policy social a pronounced had party the though even Interestingly, 579 in front of the party members party the of front in 580 , in the later times the local the times later in the , 233 CEU eTD Collection supply of the population with these articles, which are in high demand. We promise the demand.Wepromise areinhigh articles, which supply with population the these of will also increase theMarks already in toproduce this year. We undertake 7000 extra telescopesin 1971, and we plan targets of camerasthe IKL and that lenses our factoryin order of plenum at the and wecould more,work decide therefore madeapledgeto employees willto provide increase for thea better plansucceeded towin management support the of the for thesolution of problem.the Our targets of consumer evaluation resolutionsthe of of Party Eighth the Congress,this, thanks to we and goods by 2 millionsParty Congress: Eighth the of from resolutions the conclusions” “right the already drew they that announce “In factory could proudly organization firstZeissthe products, secretary of party the of our political-ideologicalpassionately inaddressed the the of gaps supply population the with daily consumer Hagerso In Professor same meeting where very the consumer goods. of production workof-living policy, GDR leadership the livedunderparty thespell increasethe of of the we paid a special attentionThe “unity oftheeconomic andsocial policy” to the with tocommunicate regime preferred in workers the form the of only.applications it seems thatdespitelabor, its policy but the pronounced to comparative perspective); in placed when bad all at not were GDR the in conditions housing the though (even writers the of problems flat the addressed mainly which complaint, of letters surviving the are lives of working-class sources numerous most the fact that inthe irony sad is some There factory. the of level the at focuses chapter following the level, district the at policy” andsocial “unity economic the of of the realization examinesthe chapter While this case. Hungarian the factory similarly to of the from that is separated district policy the of labor While in Hungary the leading political slogan slogan standard- early the was the of While in leadingpolitical 1970s the Hungary Despite the fragmentary nature of the sources in the GDR, the discussion of inof GDR,thediscussion the the of sources the fragmentary nature the Despite 234 CEU eTD Collection that follow from the resolutions of the Eighth Party Congress”. thetasks efforts on concentrate our to targets of 1971 and plan realize the factory the to of employee and comrade every with together utmost our do we will that leadership party Zentren der Arbeiterklasse. Sekretariatssitzung, 20 Juni 1974. 20 Juni Sekretariatssitzung, Arbeiterklasse. der Zentren Bezirkes zur Verbesserung derVersorgung mit Dienstleistungen Baureparaturen, und besonders denin Bevölkerung2. im 1974 Halbjahr undüberdie Verwirklichung Aufgabenden der Versorgungsplanan des 582 Bezirksparteiorganisationen. op. cit. 581 streets”. criticize in in thepublic lightening the services the towns, particular inadequate of the frequently bulbs. People glass and fire-proof bath tubs, leatherclothes, women’s coats, sets, tape fortelevision demand the satisfy We can’t likewise installation. electric neededfor fittings recorders, and kettles scissors, corkscrews, enough openers, can not There are be covered. cannot solve to and with “Theconsequent demandfor purposeful 1000small work: the things wine, champagne, as well werestillproducts there services”, party the as better had leadership that problems consumer goodsbuilding targets of fulfillment of the results positive overall “despite the fact tothe that called attention and the related materials, improvementpopulation with daily articles was indeed adifficult A one. report of 1974, for instance, of the supply forof is “fight” thestable provision the the and continuous there that evidence some of peoplecarpets, with theseimprove in the men’searly indeed did1970s. consumer the goods population with supplyof extentthe tothe question as Despite suits the fact that andthe reports were in general optimistic, measures tosolve (includinghousing alarge-scale which was expected program, the time. atthat a problem complaint lightening theinadequate shortage suggests thatthe about of still electricity was ThStA ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera, IVC-2/3/1/154. Die Sicherung derVersorgung der der Arbeit die für Schlussfolgerungen ergebenden Parteitages 8. des Beschlüssen den aus sich Die Even though the party leaders promptly followed the party line, it is, of course, a is, line, it of course, party followed the leaders promptly Even party the though In 1976 the government could feel confident enough to announce furtherannounce feel welfare enough couldto In governmentthe confident 1976 582 The list, at any rate, seemed to contradict the overall positive results, andthe results, overall positive the contradict seemedto any list,rate, at The 581 235 CEU eTD Collection improve the living andworking conditions of people”.the to further in order measures newpolitical social over even we can ponder accordingly, butobjectives they be can realized andif productivity we succeed toincreaselabor aregrandiose these of all Comrades, Marks. millions 36,3 need anadditional Congress we mention that the 60 social political measures that have come toforce since the Eighth Party holidaysleave and baby 60millions Besides, mothersof working with Marks. wehaveto employees of the district. During the Five-Year-Plan we can support the extended weekend working people. From 1 May1977we introduce week 40-hour the will for 54,000 of education 18,000 of support adultmillions the the needMarksfor program we will 40 conditions the of improvement the for Marks millions 360 additional an have We Marks. millions of retireddistrict, and we will alsoincrease the minimum wages. For people.these purposes we received 200 samethe new level.We introduce price basic wages forwill 70,000employees in the In order to income netthe population be of asmuchinthe will keep twice wepromise 1960,and to fulfill the every that family thirdin thecan district livingenjoy better conditions. In in addition, 1980 resolutionsBetween 1976 and 1980,wewill 20,000citizensprovide withnew and comfortable flats so of the program. political of social core isthe our housing project state know,the As[…] weall social political positive politicalpassionately defend line people, our who among reception the working welfare of workingthe class and of that found wholethe population an unambiguously party line of Ninth Party the itsCongress with serve resolutions that theinterests and socialismthat citizens. hasdecisively ideasandbehaviorof shaped the The general our evaluating of the resolutions “We Ninth the Congress: Party believe every have reason to in time no wasted likewise district the of leadership party The population). the of problems September1976. 583 ThStA Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera, IVC-2/6/440. Zur Einführung vonGrundlöhnen 21 583 236 CEU eTD Collection Hungary. in its than in members of GDR the training ideological the to much more attention party paid the showsthat which party schools, 77,000attended out of which districtthe employed industry inindustry, construction and traffic. The had 89,000membersparty in numbertotal employees, of inworkers, andtrainees districtthe out of which 186,000 were workingthe classof In 1971 one document district. the givesfor afigureof the 303,000 policy in party the of were dissolved bureaucratic languagethe of officialthe ideology. the to responses working-class and functionaries, the of vision the of out workers real the drove increasingly people” the of conditions working and living the of “improvement to propagate shift undertake willingness canimproveorhow ideological to of thework workers’ full-timefor instance, kind what things, “purposeful” mainly leaders occasions the discussed party Evenonthese district. the of leadership of party the meetings inthe fact discussed work among the women of the district. It seems that the the Zeiss factory the proportion factory Zeiss the wasmuchhigher, proportion the of skilledfemalethe workforce 49,3% district, foundfemale34,9% of belonged skilled the the working workers that to class. In of the in selected enterprises conducted 44 A survey,which was women. district were of of Already50,8% endthe employees of the the 1972, inat district. it the 90% reached percentage of women workingof 82,5%, and increased ageemployed from in73% to 1975 1973 the Between 1970 and district. the in women working the about more data are some inclass-based the lightof ideology, omnipotent how the particularly indeed,striking, Itis, in district. class the of working the actual the conditions praised the achievements of the social policy of the party, they were much less interested in Qualifizierung der Arbeiterklasse, 25 März 1971. 584 ThStA Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera, IV B-2/3/170, ÜberErfahrung bei der In withthe comparison sources, thereisHungarian information littleremarkably on Even though the functionaries were not sparing of impressive figures when they when figures impressive of sparing not were functionaries the though Even 584 Thanks tothe overall efforts of the party to increase female employment, there little labor-related topics were in were topics labor-related 237 CEU eTD Collection elections of 1972 the workers even criticized the low proportion evenelections low proportion of1972the among criticizedof workers the the workers union in highestdemand the trade (in other the socialist were vouchers countries to bath Thermal others. the over advantage an had work shift did who those and workers, holiday1972, 70%of vouchers, in the which were distributed wasgiven district, the to in people: of in theeyes moreattractive makeshiftwork the to offered also were bonuses money from 43,2%. Apart agitation andtheextra other increasedfrom the 39,2% to this respect the report commented that the proportion of employees who atein the canteens womenthe workers of districtthe worked in intwo-shift- and 6,7% three-shift-system. In of a report15,8% of 1972, nevertheless, according to continued: for shiftwork, agitation offspring”. care of their night the with anursery entrust ready to not mothers are the that conclusion the to led children small more or two had who mother with discussions “the normal be because intoone had a transformed alsoto opened nights) during undertake workingshift mothersin to factory Zeiss the nursery work: shiftthe (which was persuadeideological the even more complained wasneededto that The reports work for workers this half yearthey end. part-time hadthe ideological with discussion along in every that reported loyally instance, for factory, Zeiss the of commission women’s the jobs; full-time take to encouraged constantly were part-time were employed who Women district. the of leadership party the of meetings the in even discussed was job full-time district. itbutwas also high with 45,3% in Jenapharm the factory and in textilethe industry of the 587 but showed it slightly a increasing trend. proportionof womenpart-time workers was 20,8%,which wasthan averagethe higher GDR of the (29,5%) 586 585 Frauenarbeit, op. cit. UACZ,WB487,Abrechnung Nr. der Frauenarbeit 1980 nachSchwerpunkten. According to the report the ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-2/17/612, Frauenarbeit. The problem of how to reconcile the family and household duties with that of a 585 587 The 238 586 CEU eTD Collection loss to us”. to loss cultural and social policy. whom Every worker we lose because of problemthis is a great from quick union help of leaders the trade the the responsibleand field in officials the of choose to leave the factorytension that comes from this becausesituation increases their objection to shift work,and they often of their livingin The shifts. co-habitationwork whentheirroommates differentabout theproblems of problems. We would likeproblem: “Theto young womenask workers who live infor the workers’ hostelsa complain a lot girls were more likely to give differentup shifts. Accordingtheir tothe report of the women’s commission of the VEB Carl Zeisscareer in the factoryin mates flatworked room-the or happened it that becauseoften problem had same the than did boys because of this hostels livedin workers’ people who from number of complaints, high sleep. Judged the not getanormal inyoung livedflat ababy, parentscouldthe aone-room family with wasindeedworkers likely morebe to solved. Thishadavery reason:practical whenthe priority theirof claim,from evident repliesthe itis and thethat flat problem shift the of complaint to the chief of letters In the flats. ofstate allocation inthe discriminated positively were workers shift manager, shift workersZeiss) surely took precedence over the holiday vouchersnever in the eyes of people: namely, that missed the opportunity to stress the settlement of the new workforce. Another report likewise stressed that girls that likewiseweremore report stressed Another of settlement newworkforce. the in the it was interested and many places, from trainees factory attracted GDR, the accommodation of the children of the working mothers during the time of the holiday. beneficiaries). Theholiday commissions arranged with childcarethe the about institutions Bezirksleitung, 8 Januar 1974. 589 Bezirkes. des Arbeiterzentren den in Lebens geistig-kulturellen des Entwicklung der und Schichtarbeiter der Betreuung der Arbeiterversorgung, der insbesondere Frauen werktätigen der Juni, 1972, Ergebnisse und ProblemeGebiet auf den derVerbesserung derArbeits- und Lebensbedingungen 588 ThStA Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera,der IVC-2/1/15, ProtokollSitzungder der ThStA Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera,der IVC-2/3/959, ProtokollSekretariatssitzung,der 29 Shift work gaveShiftwork advantage, which another instance inmanycasesin (for thatof 589 Since the training opportunities of Zeiss were widely advertised across the 588 239 CEU eTD Collection employees have demands that we currently cannot satisfy. They complain that the rate of rate the that complain They satisfy. cannot we currently that demands have employees living and working conditions, health care and labor protection, part the of of the womenimprovement the for much did we though “Even household: the manage not could they that late so home arrived they that complained women many Jena Zeiss Carl VEB interestingly, it was mainly women who were more discontented with the conditions. In and they were, claimed asleaders achievements socialist the as enthusiastic about not people whathadbeenevaluated for them.that is done evidence, though, were some There ininterested working the how actually people party the was not leadership remarkable that additional 1 million in additional Marks a year. 1 million ofsinglebenefits,mothers cost the support andmaternity theenterprise grants) an caused aloss in of2000hours a week. various The benefits benefits,(child sickness working motherslost theenterprisedays, 20,000working and hours working shortened the holidaysthe thatbecause extended factorythe of of also commented report of Zeissthe A money. of sums enormous consumed measures political social the that Congress Party Gera. It is clear from cannotfind the equivalent surveys among the materials quotedof the party leadership of the district of report of membership of learnthe county the to how thethey standard-of-livingevaluated policy, we evaluation of the to the labor While policy asurvey among inHungary party.the of was conducted party the resolutions of the Ninth attitudes. shape people’s to continued stereotypes gender traditional emancipatory the rhetoric, return likely homesto to their if problemsthey encountered Entwicklung der Berufstätigkeit derFrauen imKombinat. Regierung Erleichterungzur des Lebensberufstätigen der Frauenund Auswirkungenihre auf die Juli, 1972, Ergebnisse und Probleme bei derEntwicklung dersozialpolitischen Maßnahmen von Partei und 591 Entwicklung der Berufstätigkeit derFrau in dersozialistischen Industrie ergeben. 21April 1976. 590 ThStARudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera,IV ProtokollC-2/3/66, Sekretariatssitzung,der 24 ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-2/17/612, Probleme die sichaus der On these grounds, it is very difficult to say very isOn say indeed it grounds, how workingdifficult people respond didthese to 591 In the light of these sums, it is all the more the all is it sums, these of light the In 590 , whichsuggestsdespite that 240 CEU eTD Collection the boundaries of the “unity of the economic and social policy”. revealed also criticism the time same the at population; the of provision the with discontent their voice to likely more were regime, the of policy labor the of beneficiaries the among This, atany rate, explains the apparent contradiction of why working women, who counted the employment of their wives because they want tohave a comfortable rest after work”. problems” labor withinwith division the of thefamily:“manymen to are strongly opposed schools, and supply poor the consumer goods”.of In addition, were“ideological there lackin children,the afternoon the of the “unsolvedplaces daily care of included the full-time thatwerementionedundertake reasons” in The“objective jobs. of 1972 a report This is alsosupported by with reasons the refusedwhich part-time womenworkers to criticized by which suggests that remained shopping lesswomen, more a job. or women’s it pays to work diligently. Ibelieve that we can all hold ourselves beto happy liveto in this that comprehend fully they and Congress, Party Eighth the of resolutions the of fulfillment outline of social the colleagues program.bepolitical Our hold program this to the Conference of our Central Committee among our colleagues. We were happy hearto of the of measures Fifth you very social the tell the about of the political reception positive the following speech: “I work in the optic plant of the VEB Carl Zeiss Jena. I would like to gave wasawoman whoherself worker, of factory, Zeiss the delegate inthe meeting 1972, party of Atadistrictby purposes propaganda. regime evidently the for exploited and bigfamilies”. hours. They say that there are notenough afternoon schools and holiday places for children isdevelopment tooslow, and they criticize the shopping and opportunities the opening Regierung, op. cit. op. Regierung, 593 1974. Juni 28 Gewerkschaft, der Leitungen die durch Jena Zeiss Carl VEB im Frauenpolitik 592 Ergebnisse und Probleme bei der Entwicklung der sozialpolitischen Maßnahmen von Partei und Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera,der IV C-2/17/612, Einschätzung derDurchsetzung der There were positive responses among the working women, of women,There were which were among positivecourse, responses the working of 592 It is remarkable that the supply of consumer goods was mostly 241 593 CEU eTD Collection newspaper Italian forthe of in an interview hereported which factory, of Zeiss the organization information of policysecretary inan openly report party the of described first the were labor of goals propagandistic The only. propaganda ameansof heldworkers the blatantly so which party, the of ideology the from themselves distanced increasingly they and this, felt evidently People materials. party in the workers the of representation the of lack in the reflected waswell this difference them, and emancipate to not workers, appease the propaganda in of functionaries. eyes the Thechiefaim laborthe policy wasto of the interest of ideologicalthe struggle, andit wasindeed held tobe primarily a means of tothehigher policylabor “subordinated” was becausethe wassymptomatic class opinions women employees). the among reception true feelings of people (evenif socialthe measures political did undoubtedly find a positive believeit the reflected difficultit that to bureaucratic languagerenders further,only; the it speaker by was written the that best doubtful itis at worthy”), themselves as “we prove (such of functionaries the of language the were characteristic is of full that speech phrases theirto prove themselves power worthy resolutionsthe of party”. of our women mothers doeverythingand thinklikeready me,andtheyare the utmost of to to contributed results,to these andbelieve I this that lives. ameaningtoour gives Many course, they did not fully inOf of line essence socialism. the mothers are interest with of working the the fall into our laps.children I regard with that myselfof our situation futuretheir of secure the myto for parents it difficultwas how now I compare children. If as happytoday, thenbecause I can only say four were my there where family, from come a working-class myself GDR[…]I the country, thatwork the currentalso measures in 1972. 594 ThStA Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera,IV C-2/1/7. Sitzung derBezirksleitung, 4Mai In sensethis itcan bearguedthatthe disinterest of party the leaders in working- L’Unita , where “comrade X, a 26-year-old worker was chosen to demonstrate to waschosen worker a 26-year-old X, , where “comrade 594 Since the Since 242 CEU eTD Collection workers’ discontent. It is characteristic, however, how these complaints weremanaged: the story of Professor improvementliving of the conditionsof and working peoplethe (similarly quoted the to Hager),also that of theand 1970s) there demonstrated andworkers inThe documents the 1960s party ofthe late the Honecker-era. partly (and were with real evenexamples between of the communication the to thebureaucratization party the under NES the reportswhat the party could of do forsporadic the manifestationsManaging discontent of propagandistic value only. This positive. been have would responses if their even opinions revealed their formulate to workers the not trust party the did that and bureaucracy, by party the controlled waseffectively workers that and the party between the communication – show that worker selected the interview with the reception asked”. whom author the worker byevery confirmed was needs,which workers’ of satisfaction andthe personnel of cause the liesthat miracle’ of of inthehighly argument GDR the ‘production the qualified the labor the with concludes Theinterview German counterpart. of his West higherthan that actually policy in real incomethe of andcanteens,itargues that aworker GDRis kindergartens the theamong describes variousIt education. in high now he participates how and school, evening an finished X the workerssocialof their role in the building institutions of their socialistthat there is a new hadgeneration of well-paid, skilled, young workers, whostate. are fully conscious The interviewa introduces how comrade of the factory such as the polyclinic, the nurseries, Februar 1975. 595 ThStA Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera, IV C-2/3/721.Informationsbericht der IKL Zeiss, The sources well reflect the “transition” from the naïve working-class ideology of ideology working-class naïve from the “transition” the well reflect The sources 595 Both cases – the speech of the woman delegate and the 243 CEU eTD Collection prevent them preventthem negativefrom reporting onthe experiences thathadduring they visits to labor policy of the party than any ideological phrases. for the night shift. Such small gestures could have expressed much better the essence of the because it the coffeewas that suggested in vending brewed machines shouldthe befreshly wellbeingthe wereindeed of inspectors workers the about the concerned It seems that vendingis supply and with food, the helpof solved machines”. the continuous of drinks nourishing,inand receive warm shifts “Peopleand the afternoon qualitatively night drink: with food provision shift inspectors weresatisfiedthe workers the with that of the reported was can their on also It Reasoning:work own”. areallexperiencedwho workers they responsible manager of secondthe shift, andsupervision.they without could work shiftin the grindery plant. They instrumentthe of theirpromptly from received tasks the the time when the inspectors visited the plant, there were only ten colleagues who did night instance, at For are working. shiftsa fewcolleagues only when job on the night the during manageris present on secondthe it shiftbutfrequently happens managers we can’t that put enterprise tried to explain werenothere responsible managers present on and afternoon the shifts. night The away the bad report:in many cases found that investigation an Zeissfactory In the attention. special received “A shift managerbeto an ideologicalitis task, notsurprising that conditionsthe of shiftthe workers or a direct production repetition of generalthe ideological andslogans the listing of figures.production the with themselves era contented Honecker “mature” of the reports the that outcome logical a been have itmay well Therefore only. on appeasement their concentrated it but workers from came it if criticism ideological consider even not did party Produktion imRahmen derSchichtarbeit. 2August 1968. 596 ThStARudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV B-2/6/489,Die Leitung und Organisation der The commissions likewisewomen’s hadideological did butthe latter tasks not Since the party leadership evidently held the agitation of the workers for shift work 244 596 CEU eTD Collection solved. The report of the women’s commission, however, does reflect something of does the commission, women’s report of the solved. The however, than rather discussed haveshould been that problems ideological among the counted instance,visit had results the of (for ordering positive the a clean-up)dirty washbasins or requirements”. socialist meet the they that so conditions working their of improvement in the also itself manifest – must indeed – and should though the building of the factory is old and not modern, our concern about the people even believe that We vermin. for is place it a breeding because hygiene also aquestion of up in the corner,in such a shocking condition that one is disgusted even to take a look. It is has been piled waste machines hadbeen clean haddismantled: since the aproper for time years. The toilets and washbasins are dirty these rooms areunworthy human of beings, and they recall misery the postwar the of and broken. Furthermore, it seems walkedjudgment, the paperhall.the through plantand the In in hygienicour that equipments no one mainly the colleagues who are cleaning the rooms). We were shocked at the sight when we is it (since conditions hallandbadhygienic instance, for anunfriendly best, are notthe working the conditions Furthermore, development. and our work totheirpositive attitude tiring physical work and “collectivethe not of yetsocialist satisfactory work”, which is a recognition ideological problems. Wewages should addthat the brigade wonmanyof the times title of the their excellent the work.women Despite workerstheir show discussions of the development, actual whichhelp of our questions them the clarify a very The colleagues have of productivity. labor political and theincrease quality regular of improvement in the results good very achieved has brigade whole the that discussions the from “Welearnt committee: the shocked rightfully plant of the state the and satisfactory, factory had workingcollective, the avery hardly conditions couldgood be as described the eventhough instance,that for concluded 1976, a paperfactory of A visitto factories. Produktionsarbeiterinnen imPapiersaal. 29 Oktober1976. 597 ThStA Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera, IV C-2/7/612. Frauenarbeit: Aussprache mit 597 We don’t know whether the 245 CEU eTD Collection it was suspected that the workerswilling to pay the party dues”.vented In the turners’ shop, broken turner’s chisels were found,their and fury on the tools. becauseno the33comrades buys literature one Out of it APOany more.the of only 3 are The discussions with the anyway.I havenotpickedup comes party the organize becausenobody anyAPO-meeting need “Wedon’t to resentment: understandable so, with an do they reacted faileditwhen to Hungarians, the East 750 Marks,the others weredeniedof premium. the paymentthis the German Similarly to workers expected of premium aloyalty received furnacemen while the wasthat conflict the of The reason the party to intervenedue, you will learn something tomorrow” - a reference 17 to June as the reporton commented. their side, and leadersof unpaidour infront local the “ifwedon’t that get declared bonusthatthey party by an outraged were so a plant Silbitz of The workers openconflict. in of even cases than to sharpen the conflict. andinvestigation that the party their rathersuggested with sought agreement workers the This shows that the appeasementcases of protest of workersall concerned These their discontent. of signs was gaveclear in workers the which reported, cases were some important, disputes about the material rewards (wages or premiums),be solved. Itseems that it did not always pay beto tolerant. inbeenfor for them neededawidertheir the arranged factory, and they to public problems unselfishness of itwomen, outturned that sometimes even havesmall thingscouldnot the stressed stories while both that remarkable Itis,however, commitment. a political regime;the in caseit and latter collective was indeed the the that demonstrated underlined to loyalty political have beenasign of their may well tolerance Their wages. unsatisfactory underforwork difficult hadconditions and it thatthey to even admitted though was washighly praised thewomen of workers achievementstress that the to important is also it and well, as story professor’s in the found been have could that objectives emancipatory People, however, not always had the virtue of tolerance: at least in the early in least1970s early the at of tolerance: virtue always hadthe not however, People, 246 CEU eTD Collection Since the enterprises received no moreSince money, no the enterprises received bonus of could the furnacemen the be only because the loyalty supplement theiralsobonus counted and bonus. towards annual shift management for troubles further caused received furnacemen 300Marks.The workers whileshift in three-shiftwork VEBBlawa Schleiz the the the gave120Marksfor instance, for Lobenstein, of foundry A criteria. individual the for gave they much how plants the on general itThe managers were toodepended and guidelines the employment. declaredthat by the enterprises, and themaximal differentvaluesset the plants, in ofindividual the averagewages calculations the different recognition thedifferent through wereexplained which plants, various the among differences of overtime, shift work inhigher 550-800 Marks. than big were,however, There 1971, anditamounted to and the years of bonus average the was5-20% was calculatedthat an It easy task. was likewise not district recognize their rightful recognize theirmaterial demands. rightful to party the on pressure put to how knew also they that suggests This comments). political openly show their disagreementto negotiate with with thethe areadinessparty demonstrated party obviously the exists, dispute of the resolution of record the workers (and (e.g. even discussions).make direct and Further,very negative the workers did not hesitate to us but they with puttalk won’t “they comment the the as (such comments political Staatssicherheit direct making from refrain on to us”is highestthe benefits”. It didnot remarkablethatduringtheworkers the discussions or the reference to received of professional because theleast skilledworkingpride qualifiedworkers the class 17 June).the “hurt furnacemen the of discrimination positive the that conclusion the to led workers Arbeiterinteressen und SED-Herrschaft’, und Arbeiterinteressen 599 Arbeiteraussprache in der Dreherei im Stahlwerk Silbitz am 12Juni 1972. 598 study of conflictslabor in the GDR in the 1950s see: Peter Hübner, op. cit., 1995, 178-210. de-politicize labor demands, and to this end it was willing to offer material concessions to the workers. For a For a similar argument see: Peter Hübner, ‘Balance des Ungleichgewichtes: Zum Verhältnis von Verhältnis Zum Ungleichgewichtes: des ‘Balance Hübner, Peter see: argument similar a For ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera, IVC-2/6/441. Information überdie The distribution of the annual bonuses of 1972 in the metallurgic industry of the of industry metallurgic in the 1972 of bonuses annual the of distribution The Geschichteund Gesellschaft 599 , 19(1993),15-28. party The to sought 598 While no While 247 CEU eTD Collection employees threatened to turn to the trade union”. trade tothe turn to threatened employees the plants many In metallurgy. in than commerce and industry light in paid were bonuses many placesfrom heard was “it bonuses, of payment the after because too, plants, in other discontented that despite have been in People maywell results hadbetter yearbefore. 1972thanthe because they the fulfillment measure”understand this but “won’t employees the they that material costs warned and even higher of because the reduce thebonuses had to management the Greiz, Elektrobau over-fulfillment as VEB somethe such In places employees. other the expenseof atthe increased of the plan, higher Jahresendprämie 1972 im Bereich der IG Metall. 601 measure in question. 600 “increased political attention” to the new state enterprises, where the employees had employees to the where enterprises, new state tothe attention” political “increased leaders of the party and the trade union fully Inaddition,get the of newwages, change. which conscious the the them render as well as the managers were requested led “decisivetoto results”;pay the report, however, commentedan that one has towait when people thediscussions employees money. lessWith other if commute received they pay to them StramoGreiz outof five seventhe givepeople wantedto it notice reasoningwould that not convincedperformance”. Many werenotby political agitations:workers inVEB the enterprises paid workerswhile the more to state wanted pay the to “in proportion to beat triedwas very conflict around thebush: though report simplethe even to private was awagedisputeabout with workers the of nationalized in enterprises 1973. Herethe stress demands. to partyin againstthe their order arguments” industry. workers also Suchcasesshowthat the use knew“political-ideological howto be was accidental metallurgy was probablynot astrongholdheldbecause to of socialist ThStA ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera, IVC-2/6/440. Informationüberdie Auszahlung der This phrase was also used in the Hungarian sources, and it usually meant a vehement protest against the The next case mayThe next well been have basis capitalista good becauseit propaganda for 601 The comparison between the industries the between comparison The 248 600 CEU eTD Collection Therefore it would be better to change the job requirements with the help of and science with helpof the change job requirements the to itbewould better Therefore higherthe lower which tothe wagegroups, hurt their professional and self-respect. pride qualifications, shouldnot be lefteither:out had “Unskilled workers tobe downgradedfrom whodid arguedthat have the necessary not those, report the workers, blue-collar of wages average forms increasedthe thenewwage though even workers; in thatof the as conflicts avoid labor to interest party of in the the itwas asmuch that show instructions and new wages so that they must a clear comeof might relationshipthe getpicture between old the up.Theworkers realize that that question any itanswer could they is that so wages new worth the receive first workers the when working underbe present to have thefunctionaries leading new The calculated. are system”.wages new the how and norms The immediately. mustYou solve manager problem central he sothat every working bethe chief can group should explain the of Thechairman process. whole the for responsible are personally manager chief to the workers union leaders labor, andthe trade partysecretaries, of the of issues one concerns basic the how the old basic wages introduction new the of the Since culture. of support the working-class norms relate to should achievement! You stress improvementthe of workingthe andliving conditions and the new norm can be changed No counts! word his that feel without must Everybody unanswered! left be justification. must question “No Our principle is: with avoid workers: the disagreement to any localsecretaries inorder the to instructions the same wage for the same several inleaders by giving party the was likewise workers) a Freital preceded plant capitalism. of socialism over advantage the really not casediddemonstrate the besides, such cases with thecuts. count wage indignation of people could override their fear of political repression; Problemeden in neuen VEB. 10April 1973. 602 ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-2/6/440. Informationüber die lohnpolitische The introduction of the new basic wages (which was, ingeneral,favorable for the of The introduction newbasic (which wages the 602 It seems that the party also counted with the opportunity that in 249 CEU eTD Collection Zaporozhec. response that even though they could not help with the Trabant, he could immediately get a his productionwaiting He gotthe onthe time of grounds good social results and work. 1960s: aworkerasked for thehelp of leadership party the togetaTrabantbefore usual the late from heremention case the one instance, for One can, needs. material addressed complaint of letters the of majority overwhelming the that surprising not is It kind). this of atleastto examine (or complaints fulfilldemands material more to their readiness showed it getengaged party the strictly inanypoliticaldebateswith workers, the to refused mild forms (e.g.workercomrades terminating theirmembership). party while Therefore, manifestation of workers’their rightful discontentrewards – as one manager of the Zeiss factory formulated. was harmful receive labor workers interests the of andarrange that represent the party the expected to to the prestige of the party they intervene in may not havepolitics, to latter “agreed” while workers: the the well even in its so that wouldthere be anunambiguously reception positive measureof in the plant. the andwouldhaveorganization the local compromise party this protests, triggered proposed ridicule in the Hungarianof wasan object food Canteen beits own parody. to out turned sometimes speech” “party factory, the NES of the era during the that argued was already andIt ithas today. as at that time effect it seems that it was not very popular among the original wage groups”. so they that technology for workers toorganize the in trainingcourses can remainor their Halbjahr 1968. 605 Probleme sieht derBetriebsleiter? Welche cit. op., W), (Gen. IKPKK der Bericht reward”. rightful their get should they but arest have can 604 Verbindung mit der WAO. 15 September1975. 603 ThStA Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv IV SED Gera,der B-2/5/379. Eingabe Bevölkerung,der 2. people now and realized already been has socialism that believes workers of the “Part comment: Seethe ThStARudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IVC-2/6/440. Die Einführung neuer Grundlöhne in One, of course, does not know whether the above answer had the same comical The above cases all illustrate the controversial relationship between the party and party the between relationship controversial the illustrate casesall The above 605 603 It seems more likely, however, that the decrease of of wages the decrease the that however, likely, Itseems more 604 The 250 CEU eTD Collection conducted among conducted party membership the of county,whichfound many the of that members society would of influence development scientific-technical the how discussed it was cases both In this respect. the in social changes positive the stress to preferred which sources, German East in the discussed less role of the workingever in increasingis it emphasis information surprisingthe thatreports, not itwas much class. In Hungary a survey wasNew inequalities? management of discontent tobe its taskeven if itcould offer nothingideology. but hadfood nothingdo with to ideology; story,the suggests however, thethat party held the have been that the “action”managers”. responsible the of of in front the food canteen workersof improvement the for demonstrated the simple fact only that initiativemadethe immediately proposals constructive andI than took better much I today. the bad timein toprovethatat menu from They the order selection was him also gave a 1959 this? youpropaganda/agitation the‘Can followingBecausewecan’t’. question: eat with the party organization of O3 where the workers handed over a dish to the party secretary of in a meeting of it and intensified culminated week thesituation In last the similar factories. situation more difficultrenders the It thirty of cooking assistants. andweareshort kitchen skilled in the chef that the kitchen staff getsfreely selected from the menu. There are indeedlower objective difficulties: at present there is no wages in our plant of food, badquality particularlycomplaints aboutthe of of can be dishesthe that that than in other “In party as increasing lastthe following: secretary the wehave time number an received workers of Zeissthe factory leastineither, at 1968. The disagreementwas described by the des VEB Carl Zeiss Jena, 12 Juni 1968. 606 ThStA Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv IV derSED Gera, B-2/3/255. Informationsbericht,SED IKLder While inHungarythe declining social of position workingthe classreceivedan 606 It may well 251 CEU eTD Collection developmentwas prerequisitethe forimprovement further the of livingthe working and technologicalleast,survived: it development at was widelythat propagated this scientific system interesting is that whilethe tactfully andparty documents avoided mentioninghis Ulbricht of socialism after the resignation of the first secretary, the faith in the supports andsupports makes use ideas,the of knowledge andcreativity workingthe of people”. it insofar be as only can successful technological development people,andthe future the only by scientific-technical the can bebelieve revolution mastered that peopleandfor the WeasMarxists intelligentsia. on the dependent class working renders the development work […] The increasingly as recognized a leadingclass,whichperformsphysical both and intellectual bourgeois state,ideologists which is the mostwith closely theare modern linkedtrying socialist with connected areinseparably people masses working of the the of of production, forces the the to industry.building prove ofTherefore, the to“In the socialistera of the scientific-technical revolution,us which is characterized by the therapid growth that workingsystem, the class,will technologicalbe the largest class of our gesellschaftlichenSystems entwickelten des desGestaltung Sozialismus.zur Sitzung derBezirksleitung, Bezirksparteiorganisationen der 18-19Aufgaben Novemberweiteren 1968.Die ZK. des Tagung 608 15, op. cit. didtechnological development indeed in rapid the long that delivered he district speech second secretary the a of argued which the district the of leadership party the of meeting a In socialism). scientific Ulbricht’s however, closely intointegrated politicalthe agenda(which issurprising not if we think of found The among concept documents). of their was, technologicalthe development least canbe ask themembership the troublenosurveys not did(at German take to district intelligentsia. and bytheeconomic technical controlled increasingly was society development scientific-technological with that thought they party the leading workingwere skeptical the about of the in because role class future the 607 ThStARudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV B-2/1/10, ReferatAuswertung zur 9.der Jelentés a párttagság ideológiai nevelésének eredményeir strengthen the social position of the working class: Ę l, problémáiról, afeladatokról, 1972. augusztus 607 The party leadership of the East 608 252 It CEU eTD Collection We believe that someWe that of believe be shouldcriteria in these toprovide indeed changed a for order Even workers. criteriaqualification,the acceptunderstand they of though they don’t them. the among count who technicians, the as job same the do they though even “intelligentsia” large understand They why scientificthey instruments. are qualified as don’t engineers who workin the production either as controllers or they manage the mounting of working classbecausethey for The that. are ‘over-qualified’ is problem other of the that the to belong longer no they classification to according that be can it how understand work and systematicdegrees andpurposeful who collegehavewith workers or university obtained now theyproblemstwo were discussed that comrades. among our Thefirst problem is that of the are employedwith the criteria of class qualification: “In discontented thiswere theparty of members that leaders party aspect district tothe reported factory here I would like to call your attentionas to engineers.children). their of in education the or education in adult (e.g. its advantages of because least, at class Our working the of members nominal remain to wanted people that evidence some is worker of the comradesworkers, the growing wealth in the private sector, etc.). In the case of the GDR there increasingly disadvantageous to belong to thedon’t working class (declining material conditions L’Unita interview for in instance,thequoted newspaper conditions people Italian of (see, the the Renate Hürtgen-Thomas Reichel (eds.), op.cit., 2001,35-52. Klassenstrukturder inderDDR deninsiebziger und achtziger Jahren und die Stellung derArbeiterklasse’ in: the investigations to ofAccording Heike workers. Solga the theamong socialist count could cadre they classso that started sixteen were to close they before its rankshad they in the that periodoccupation (id., ‘Aspekte 609 From 1972, for instance, the employees of the state apparatuses received their class category after the after category class their received apparatuses state the of employees the instance, for 1972, From The Hungarian materials in general accordingshow that topeople itwas ). 609 In 1975, for instance, the first secretary of the party organization of Zeiss the of of organization party the secretary instance, first for the In 1975, 253 CEU eTD Collection supported the bourgeois ideology because the ‘normal’ workers, who don’t have Western don’t who workers, the ‘normal’ because ideology bourgeois the supported they that commented employees the Intershops, the Concerning system. the against actions no revolutionary badindeed in whywere isGermany so situation then there the West Germany, which was more than the wages of many GDR workers. It was also raised that if West in 900 Marks of benefit received an a worker unemployment thatemployees was,instance, West for opinionsit relationshipthe with Germany: among of the discussed repair of their cars. the for longer or weeks eight wait to had they and shops normal in the wanted they what buy not they could inbecause situation were latter worst the the addedthat The employees consumers. shops;3.‘normal’ in buy special they the could averageand the above incomes there were three classes:reinforced social1. criticism. The Zeiss-employees,those instance, for complained that in the GDR who had relatives (whereExquisit-shops the prices wereconsiderablyhigher in than the normal shops) in West Germany; 2. those who had holidays). time, leisure education, incomes, grow (in to continued contrary, the on differences, leveling social between classes, a the was even there of though Gerathat Jena and an to information of report 1977 during thediscussions with people itcame upin towns the strata, which could afford a higher level of consumption than the working class. According standard of living of the working people, even in the GDR people grumbled that there were inworkers socialist production”. and rolethe the of work thetype of consideration into thattakes qualification realistic 10 November1977. 612 stehen(Jena-Stadt, Jena-Land, Zeis, Gera-Stadt, Rudolstadt), 5Mai 1977. politisch-ideologischenArbeit die gegenwärtig besonders im Mittelpunkt derDiskussion der Bev0lkerung 611 der IKLZeiss, 12Mai 1975. 610 ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV D-4/13/76, Informationsbericht vonIKL Zeiss, Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera,derIV D-2/9/1/408,inhaltlichen Zur Fragen der Sekretärs 1. des Informationsbericht C-2/3/721, IV Gera, SED der Bezirksparteiarchiv Rudolstadt, ThStA It seems, however, that despite every effort of the government to increase the 611 The opening of The foropening Western (which Intershops of soldgoods currency) and 612 It seems that the Zeiss-employees had ideologically less conformist less ideologically had Zeiss-employees the that seems It 610 254 CEU eTD Collection of less value than Western currency. less valuethan of money was understand whytheir didn’t shops.People currency,these from were excluded der IKLZeiss, 24Oktober1977. 614 613 Exquisit-shops only Exquisit-shops nourishes social differences and renders themmore visible”. spreadof the that believe andemployees comrades our part of “largest the that reported the symbols of the new inequality in consumption:from the Zeiss factory it was repeatedly together with Honecker’s ideology. with together Honecker’s people; the of eyes the in credibility lost rapidly policy labor this Germany, West of that turned out that the standard ofliving ofthe GDR couldsurpass, not nor even catch up with it policy.When centerof his labor atthe by consumption of process theincrease putting assistedthis unintentionally Ironically,Honecker had media, effect. German thesame also living,Western West GDRthe by waswidelypropagated the standard of the which socialist consciousness of the workers” – as the party secretary of the county formulated, in the “influenced negatively sector private class-mates.the WhileinHungary fortunate less their by envied much were they and Intershops, in the TV on saw children their that products buy relatives could from desired Western the their parents whoreceived currency among the “privileged” social Itwasstrata. also raised inlife-history interviews that contacts other or relatives who hadWestern those counted in people GDR the average, the were above incomes that sectorprovided While private inHungary the counterparts. contented much more werenot EastGerman –atworkers the that show reports above Hungary, the least relatively – with their level of consumption than their Hungarian ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera, IV C-2/3/721, Informationsbericht des 1. Sekretärs 1. des Informationsbericht C-2/3/721, IV Gera, SED der Bezirksparteiarchiv Rudolstadt, ThStA Zurinhaltlichen Fragen derpolitisch-ideologischen Arbeit, op. cit. Even much from lessnegativethough criticism from wasreported GDR than the 613 The Exquisit-shops were evidently considered tobe 614 255 CEU eTD Collection 617 Honeckerthe see:era Bouvier, op,cit., 2002, 152-201. 616 615 could give themflats not 1960s: theinstrumentplant, for instance,have did not enough designers because they late in the already -aproblem expertise for enterprise the needof the of workforce, the increase importantly,most dynamic the housing:on hugepressure the explain that factors several of course, were, There employees. Zeiss’s for problem social principal was the lightof Germansourceshousingin incidencehigh East shortage commutingthe the of - employees did not suffer from chronic housingFrom hostelstoflats shortages - largely a consequence of the policy and laborrecruitmentproblems. infor tosolve themanagement wasreserved In addition, social specific order apercentage factory. the of plants various the among distributed then were which estates, housing built newly factory housing acertain shareof of framework thereceived Zeissstate programs, allocation. flat system of centralized the and theGDR, across from people facilities of the enterprise as well as the educational institutions of the town attracted young Hungary.In flats1976, Zeiss of anddisposed hostels11,321 in 3,342 places inworkers’ situation factory in than the supply flats an incomparably with better respect Rábathe of to UACZ, VANr. 3741, Ihre erneute Eingabe vom 24 April 1980, 8Mai 1980. Fora study housing onprogram forworkers in the1960s see:Hübner, Peter op.cit., 1995, 171-176; under Bericht der IKPKK (Bericht, Gen. W). op., cit. Contrary to the Hungarian factory, where the reports uniformly claimed that the that claimed uniformly reports the where factory, Hungarian the to Contrary 7. LaborPolicy in theFactory 615 -, the high number high training given new settlers, -,the of that the 617 It should be added that the Zeiss factory was in Zeissfactory the be Itshould addedthat 616 Within the 256 CEU eTD Collection between 1972and 1987 know, for instance, the that optical instruments’ precision divisionflats received 1,696 Jena. ergeben. 21 April 1976, op.cit. 620 619 618 town. winning overyoung peopleplaces whocame from distant fortheir training tosettle in the constituted mostthe important group:as citedstressed,the reports Zeisshad aninterest in undoubtedly settlers new allowance. The state of kind this on dependent were particularly general patterns of how people acquired flats and also to identify some someidentify to of the groups,though, whois possible, It situation. miserable their of complained all letters conditions oflivingdraw definitive for about the average aflat,onecannot time conclusions waiting the Zeiss-employees from thisHungary. type of sourceletters because of complaint solvinghigher This housingnumber the workers. explains problemsmuch of of the the the writers ofthat the addressed housing shortage in the GDR, when compared to flat quickly. The issue arose in my life-history interviews: early marriages andthe marriages early interviews: inmy life-history issuearose The flat quickly. a for applications their process to management and committees distribution flat the press whooften worked on differentit shifts- ismany understandable young that peopletried to housemates, and baths, kitchens, common life-with of dormitory continuation meant the married couples. Lodging in private houses was very rare. Since life in the workers’ hostels younger people shared single but usually aroom, werefamily there for also hostels Here, in dormitories. housed typically were they astrainees, hostels; in workers’ place Probleme die sichaus der Entwicklung derBerufstätigkeit derFrau in dersozialistischen Industrie Wolfgang Mühlfriedel-Edith Hellmuth, op. cit. 305. UACZ,VA Nr. 1583, Unterlagen zur Direktion Kultur und Sozialwesen,20 Mai 1976. 618 620 Given the absence of Given figures for number of overall the statistical absence the applicants and of the The first accommodation that the enterprise could offer to young workers was a Thereareno 1980sin overall the figures for but archive of we the enterprise; the 619 , which shows that the workplace played a key role in the 257 CEU eTD Collection their application for a flat. The “tense housing situation” – as it was called - brought some –asitwas called-brought “tense for The situation” aflat. housing their application toErich toturn answerto they petitioners anegative threatened should Honecker receive Some be powerless. to feltthemselves who subordinates of requests the were not management; andthey of state the demands articulated letters the Thus, aflat. to entitled they were that believed every petitioner but requests, were letters the all relationship: depict anda bodies.Theletters between official tense workers communication the examine to also but help, parental on rely not could who workers German East introducingsome of casesnotthe only giveto apictureof livingthe conditions ofyoung preference for modern housing. was of because of buildingdifficultshortages materials, whichexplains unambiguous the Reconstruction in building. flat an old accept a to than rather hostels in workers’ theirflat modern waitfor anewand to many chose people that of complaint letters seems from the family. of It needs a small the for too thatthey were on grounds the rejected sometimes patiently until theirtheir request flat forproblem a modern, was livedapplicants stressed undermiserable thatthey that risked whoan conditions answer notcomfortable as urgent asflat they however, the suchcases, heating. In could andcentral bathrooms, kitchens toilets, noproper had claimed be fulfilled. it to be, and Flats flats.Often they for such frequently offers declined that applicants were seenasundesirable, theywere should wait management more. flats in still Theenterpriseas but, distributed buildings,old too, these and on flatincreasedcommittees distribution the pressure were underconstruction, that Single people obviously stood at the bottom of the waiting lists. asfamilieshadamuchhousehold chanceindependent with children acquire better to aflat. subsequent birth of frequently by a child motivated were young for desire the people for an Although letters of complaint individual is described itproblems, still worth estates housing built newly in the flat a for asked everybody practically that fact The 258 CEU eTD Collection factory dormitory until 9 July 1980 and then I received a place in the AWU come from a bigfamily (I havesix siblings), Iwanted tobe independent. Ilived in the opportunity from newspapersthe and TV.Icould getno intraining myhome townand asI 10thclassthe be school, a Itrainedin to of yourfactory.polisherlearnt about I this up in take finisheddecidedwork finished they “Havingafter factory to the their training: filthy. The following letter well expresses the disappointment of young people who and common furniture wasneglected the cleaning and wasold overused, rooms wereoften and equipment the criticism: considerable generated hostels the in Conditions not. or it wanted they whether of regardless endure to had people many that option an was hostels in workers’ the sharedaccommodation such complaints, to responded officialswho the climate people could very assertively stand up for their social rights. ideological despite wasadouble-edged policy oppressive the of weapon: appeasement factory offersthe that conditions living to the with the disappointed much very am I young home. travel rarely can skilled workers becausemelivehavemakehere live doors). fit Ittook wardrobe it becauseI to daysto to in,andI they do not meet our expectations. locks and broken damaged (garbageleftby former tenants, the dirty state was in avery I only with curtains from the common rooms, so I can’t even close my door. The whole flat living have been flat inasix-room areseparated The‘bedrooms’ with colleagues. three entitled in chapter the introduced cases the to similarly This, of complaint. many letters wrote who petitioners persistent deadline, were there and factory for ashorter in the pressing inventive very People were explanation. an demanding names their listed they and did, they than earlier flats received their Many wereangeredcolleagues that human tothe surface. nature sides of worst of the 621 AWU=Arbeiterwohnunterkunft, workers’ hostel. Because of Because of in “tense the housing which situation” excuseJena, wasthefavorite of Managing discontent, suggests that the government’s the that suggests 621 . Since then I 259 CEU eTD Collection I unfortunately do not have here. For this reason I am asking for your support”. work for resultsachieve livingwouldone good needslike but to good good conditions that hostel of Josef-Klose Stra 623 622 basin is often full of clothes so I can take a shower only very late at night. The hygienic The night. very late at only ashower soIcantake of full clothes isoften basin paper walls, Icannotsleep when the others listen to music or they havevisitors. The wash- by separated are rooms the Since once. at shifts threedifferent or two on work we all and flat living in arefourmy the of us There in window-ledge room. standand on the drinks cheese arebroken. Butter, becausebe their locked properly doors cannot kitchen-cabinets in The bycockroaches. areinvaded cupboards kitchen becausethe my the wardrobe butanythingeasy me.enough for Thereisnot room formy storefood Ihavein things: to As I do not haveandinflat Iwas havepromised a 1983. I however, this not, promise inwriting. received a family home,bad notice my therethat in. Iconsideredmy mycase you giving discussed In workplace the AWU is my main dwelling place where life is I was accommodated in Josef-Klose-Stra the I wasaccommodated accommodation twelve-, five-(in eight-, andfour-bed finished Aftermyrooms). I training, yearsmorein for If shared than time the Ihavelived eight I include there. of my training, divorce of my parents, I was sent to a children’s home. I finishedKurtZier dormitory. Iwas born here inJena and Ilived for nine yearsin Kahla. After the the 10th class of school training asa inpolisher VEB Carl Zeiss inJena 1980.During my Ilivedtraining in the my in “Istarted hostels: depictslife of workers’ avery the picture letter unfavorable hygienic conditions of muchshared accommodation as as young women. Thefollowing In respectthis nogender canbe difference observed:youngmen complained of poor the life difficult for young people who dreamt of an independent life and a home of their own. It should be added that there were differences among the standards of the workers’ hostels because the because hostels workers’ ofthe standards the among differences were there that beadded should It UACZ, VANr. 3453, Eingabe 17.07.1980. Apart from the poor material conditions, the problems of co-habitation also rendered ȕ e was mentioned negatively otherin letters of complaint, too. ȕ e. 623 workers’ hostel The conditions were so 622 260 CEU eTD Collection leave the hostel leave thearedenied hostel visits and sometimes in absence an identification card. of the guests annoysfriends myme here. andgirlfriend who visit visitor At10 pmevery has to register to requirement The freedom. my on personal attack immediate feel an I barracks. when one enters, one immediately gets the impression thatit and is a boarding entrance, the schoolat or a sitting been have factory the of personnel security the of members for a limited.few But was not freedom becausemy weeks atleast individual of comfort lackup withinconvenience and all the I put forcondition unfit they use. are altogether or in bad avery are and The toilets facilities be washing described aspleasant. hostel cannot would getaflat ayear.after Therefore Ikept on waiting life patiently even though in the where I could move in with my girlfriend, for whom I came here to work. I was told that I liveJena.in I now block 86/87in Iwould hopethat the eventually flatget aone-room regime: “I have been workingworkers whoas a werelocksmith in principle turned repression it state how shows is letter The because cited managing director. to the for sixteen not atmonths all opposeddirected complaint life a bythepolice, hostel of supervision excessive attacked inpetitioner the toVEB the Carl system Zeiss of socialism against the argument!”. “itis good areally commentthat the five-eight-, four-bed underlined rooms)” with shared accommodation was and (in twelve-, in for years morelived than “I eight the sentence because wasconsidered petitioner the own”. that I explained above. reasons becausethe of AWU in indeedI Andthe impossible is work. this after have arest do not expect a luxury home,changing just tenants.something I like thatmy work becauseof frequently the and isI the flat inavery condition shabby conditions arepoor canin the call optic my plant but I really need a place where I can 624 UACZ, VANr. 3741, Eingabe 04.22.1983. 624 Tenants also complained that they were too strictly controlled in the hostels. One The answer is not known but there is some evidence that the social situation of situation social the that evidence some is there but known not is answer The 261 CEU eTD Collection sometimes as many as ten strange people sleeping in the flat. They often help themselves help often They flat. in the sleeping people strange asten many as sometimes are weekends. There in at particular extreme isreally noise loud.are very people The who other of lots with night in the late very home comes frequently He flat. in the equipment permanent job. He has, however, a hobby, he is a disc jockey. He stores his music K moved to our flat. isfor10. My following. writing Atreason man, beginning year the this ayoung the of Mr He does not work in a 26 year-old workerthe and I work on the three-shiftsystem. I live in Neulobeda-West,VEB block Carl Zeiss “I am tenants: of the conduct unlawful the of regardless tenancy terminate to difficult very and he does not haveit was shows, letter following asthe but, life lackedcomfort in that have hostels the been a anothermay complaint supposedly It conduct concerning of the deviant aroom-mate. well solve theirflat problem. provoke consciouslyto authorities,the meant highly if whichis wantedto unlikely they did not identify thanthis”. better something expect to havea right theprohibitions and a real jailer is, afterwhole all, my main residence. Ithink that 23-year-old people systema couple of days, three times in ayear. Therefore this small room with the many orders and with flat couldmeI spend give wholein the prospects. year Jena andIcan home for only thetravel image a Only circumstances. these under impossible is which life, independent an build to Jena to of the “policepeople. eavesdropon andthey todoor, fromdoor policemen quietlycreep state”patrol the which like neighborhood,a common Sometimes makesonefeel criminal. the unless constantly controlledhereas soon asoneentersthehostel.Thepolicealsoregularly they staff. security the with arranged be can minutes ten extra an even Not together. This applies weekends youngalso tothe when we, peoplelike spend would to more time 626 625 Stress is is mine. Stress UACZ, VA933 It is interesting to contrast the above letter that criticized excessive control, with control, excessive that criticized letter above the contrast to isinteresting It , Eingabe zur schlechtenUnterbringung in derAWU, 09.03.1974. 626 The letter suggests that many suggeststhat letter people The 625 Ihave come One is 262 CEU eTD Collection housing) were indeed by housing) were law. strictly protected people not only defiantlyin GDR, the climate repressive deeply the despite that shows case The accommodation. asserted their rights but stay Mr K in for ashehadnoalternative aslong to was allowed that hostel the repeated these rights (amongletter the hostel: asthe case, in this others powerless was as management effectively but rules, the right to unthinkable”. himself. May In he1983 was again asked leave,he but to answeredhe that consideredit hostel. He does not pay his rent anewalternative accommodation, job and houserules while should respect helivesin onthe time, and he had to be warnednot makemany any effort to get out timesof bed) and they demanded thatto he shouldhe did behave look and bed in forlay (he room his to went hostel the of managers the complaints several “Inlifestyle:change after March, his to warningsMrKrefused repeated music. Despite making by living his earn he would that declaring Zeiss Carl from resigned had he because unemployed currently K was Mr that out turned It petitioner. the of hostel inthe room Thengo. whichhe hereceiveda flat, herefused,that arguing hadnowhereto common relinquishK upand askedto the however,Mr was broke couple, in hostel. The afamily married also in awoman worked who Zeiss factory,the andthey aone-room flatreceived plant”. in the my by machine the work on I canconcentrate sothat my need rest nerves. Ireally problem. Iwould Therefore like toaskfor your help because situationthis is onmy getting this with help can’t they or care don’t either they that seems it but problem the about hostel the of managers the home.told to at sleep I can’t one when especially is very tiring, which system, three-shift the Jena on Zeiss in VEBCarl years for ten Ihaveworked state. to myfood and from drink fridge,the andtheyleave bath the inand the afilthy kitchen 628 627 UACZ, VANr. 3742, Untersuchungsbericht zur Eingabe des Kolln. X, 24.6.1983. UACZ, VANr.3742, Eingabe 09.06.1983. 627 In this case we know the answer letter: investigators found that Mr K had Mr that found investigators letter: answer the know we case this In 628 The reply promised that there would be stricter enforcement of of house the enforcement be stricter Thereply would thatthere promised 263 CEU eTD Collection 629 future”. hostel cooperate with and to cleaningthe in staff destruction the andinsects of germsin the was full foodof and dirty dishes. She was requested“contribute to to the cleanliness of the hadbecause herflat spray not could inherkitchenette cleaninginsecticide staff come, they bethe any problem: when held responsiblefor the at to theinspectors, woman rate, in everything ideology. comical explained of language The a party of effect that terms mentioned how (itwas not cockroaches two living found speak many becausethey invasion of not only of them perished). could one that however, declared inspectors, The insects. the of appearance the because of help urgent for asked AWU in the The daughter one-year-old her with lived casewho mother single again points Inoneinvaded casea flatsby point were the cockroaches. that declined tothe sometimes out the unintentionallywas it very community every difficultalmost in like that suggests to rooms equally common of condition untidy share the task among the tenants. The “situation in the kitchen” 0,40 Mark/m² for heating), we have a right to the minimum temperature that is set by law.have that isset0,40 Mark/m² theminimumtemperature heating), to by aright for we of Mark/m² ifthis of (out pay believe 1,2 a rent we We that hardare true. butthey words control over his people. He just lets them do what they want, he has no authority. These are no has hostel the of manager the because hours for stops Heating rooms. the in 18°C heatingbeen has staff replaced,butthe hostel the of achieve can only of a temperature 15- central The heating. enough not is there because unbearable more and more becoming is hostels “Life in our fed theboilers: and whostoked those laziness of of because the years for cold in from hadextreme winter families their suffered that hostel complained workers’ renderedin hostels.tenantsKernberge lifedifficult theworkers’ The of houses three of the UACZ,VA Nr. 3742, Ausspracheprotokollzur Eingabe derX, Kolln. 20.6.1983. Not much is known about the cleaning of hostels, but criticism of the dirty butcriticismmuch dirty andthe hostels,is thecleaning of Not known about of The letters reported also of cases where incompetence on the part of staff of the part the on incompetence also where of cases reported letters The 629 264 CEU eTD Collection concentrate onmyconcentrate Iam studies. your for supportand asking an investigation into the Kellermann Stra inthe Bernhard conditions school. Butthe my at I couldobligations fulfilled have had hostel, inmy where classes. I thispeace old The requirements of the engineering school are high and one needs peace prepareto for the in worked lived factory,the I in two-bed ina room hostel. reasonable Am the Herrenberge rarely go home.weekends becauseIcan is at noentertainment Third, there workers). bed(with shift room Fourth, hygienepoor of (lack IhaveSecond, cleaning staff). in very noisy accommodation a four- there are toilettes, baths, kitchens, common only are there First, problems: the are These one. right no opportunities my study here make to conditionsthe was medoubtwhether butthe decision Kernberge to store home is300kmfrom here.IreceivedJena, IneedanAWU-place aplaceinJena- valuablewas admitted to the engineering school of objects.precision instruments of Carl Zeiss. Since my military service,When I started working as a turner in the I VEB Carl Zeiss where I workedmy “Having finished asa than student: until asa worker skilled accommodation better received I he complainedof that a studentwho bytheletter issupported standards.and This general intertwined. isinseparably social labor however, were policies afurther example and that letter, the lazywithdo the stokers; to had dealtwith correspondence) the that secretariat steps”. necessary the take years, four for discipline. Sincewehave sufferedfrom this weasksituation to you now reasonis The on10.30. a lackof comes simply at heating only usually weekends, the 16.00 pmatfrom work to 8.00 am arepaid to Although stokers the children.onesthe are most vulnerable The cold. catch inflats people always the low temperature the Because of 630 UACZ, VANr. 3453, Eingabe 06.12.1980. There were, however, differences among the hostels in terms of the level of comfort 630 One can wonder what the chief manager of the factory (or his ȕ e do not enablenote do meto 265 CEU eTD Collection to the Court of Labor”. with a strange colleague! youIf canfindnosolution myto problem, Iwill be forced to turn after so much waiting cannot which adequateaccommodation, my guarantees to Jena? of employment Even contract be an AWU where I, a familygiven, after one and half years of promises, only declareto father now that my family can’tmove have to share frauda room by which the factory urgent!bought Should me. Howyou elsegive mecan a isnot mycase because negative and conditions’ ‘objective because of flatI get a cannot still years I regard answer, the treatment I have to assume I havehouse that been you ofapprove my father-in-law of the stay in the familyhadto ofanAWU.My consists accommodation’ thisthat ‘adequate and I was told to waitme accommodation.my promisedenterprise out adequate family that It turned get would for one year. Now, the in1972when VEB CarlZeisswork Jena to “I contract: came to hishim in work after one and half hadbeen promised to that coulda flat even get expert not an that show mid1970s that the survived show any from Angry letters declineddistribution flat the respect. to committee financially responsible for the state of the rooms. conditions. In order to preventmeet was to ordered obligations hishomework students lived because other underthe same further damage, it was decided that the tenants should be circumstances that I describeabove”. that circumstances 633 632 631 it. enable conditions” “objective however,beginning. be Hewas, reassured thathisproblem would as assoon solved the accommodation adequate that was in anAWUmanypractice for in the employees and problem, social solve every unable to objectively factory was the that was informed UACZ, VANr. 933, 15.05.1974. UACZ, VANr. 933, Eingabe,04.04.1974. UACZ, GB Nr. 1569, Eingabe zur unzureichendenUnterkunft inAWH, 21.05.1987. Because of Because of badthe livingmany it was understandable that conditions people 632 The answer was, however, negative despite the threat: the writer the threat: the despite negative however, Theanswerwas, 633 631 The student did not get apositive reply, though: he 266 CEU eTD Collection 634 Gru ( socialist greetings” “with wasfinished formula with the The letter double standards or that I am not mean Does myhouse. are there this in that room of conditions underparental one similar important for my plant now thatVEB I amCarl in theZeiss army?” Jena andyear and then you would havethat got aflat!’ I was outraged to hear that such practices theexistin tenants of movedAWU to an AWU two years ago,are you would have lived advantagedunder difficultconditions for one evenanothermy colleague,to whotold ‘had werefreethere flats youwife addingthat that though we live knew nothing ofitand hefoundapplication our only alongafter search. Then he senther responsible colleague flat, the for application a our sheinquired about When experience. again opposite butwrite aletter now I amforced becausethe hadjust my service to wife my military it helpI am doingmy family. doeseverything can to committee distribution flat the answerthat the which I received of to complaint some letters year wrote “Last I housing problems and the role of factory the in them. Oneexample is followingthe letter: consider first economic interests in order to be able to improve the situation of working of situation the improve to be able to in order interests economic first consider does not mean that we doChile had beto accommodatednot in the town. Therefore the failuretreat to solve your flat problem our employeestherefore equally some plantsbut it receivedmeans beproblem solvedyear:could not in “Wehad solve that to urgentproduction tasks and that more we flats. have Further,to AWU a number were of political not of tenants the that wasinformed writer the negative: however, was, answer The factory. emigrantsadvantaged, from and that there were other, objective reasons of why his UACZ, VA Nr. 934, Eingabe, 05.01.1975. ȕ ), and the writer also referred to his), andthe also referred to writer results and community hiswork inthe good Even members of the party wrote angry and disrespectful letters concerning their mit sozialistischem 267 634 CEU eTD Collection immediately a flat. Whereis justice here?” immediately get couples are there that all at understand I cannot concerned? family of the situation notthe matter, without theflats anditis if anyway connections lists priority that then managers allocate the babies decisionsthe of management,the notby flatthe distribution Whycommittee. do they make who spend according allocated to flats, 59were 84 of out the received? plant that I wastold our that onlymove circumstances I would with to this flat baby.Whata small has happenedtotheflats some a bath,flat functioning miserable,without sleazy or wet old, atoilet no Under wiring. weeks a totally of we receivedanoffer newinsteadin flat of promised disappointment, the the AWU in priority our great getanewlist weweresupposed plant, flat of to our 1980. To and thenroom of 12 a in m². living been theyhave us of I three then thinksince and year last born was daughter My ourZeiss. situationCarl VEB the of AWU in an years needsfive for lived have “I system: whole the of nojustice the further description.question to enough (ortactical) desperate were them shows, some of letter followingthe Since we were on As complaints. perpetual with thetheir committee flatdistribution the pestered andthey flats of criteria allocation for the about the information complaints, they demanded repeated party. people”. 636 635 families with a child have to wait for years in the AWU? When I inquired about the about inquired I When AWU? the in years for wait to have child a with families while flats two-room receive canchildless couples how situation Otherwise people. of that I got confirms my main argument: flats are not allocated according to the social list The notatall or answered. partly have been only becausemy questions letter former the man turned to the manager with a new complaint: “I do not accept the reply to my UACZ, VANr. 3741, Eingabe 01.04.1980. UACZ, VANr. 934, 29.01.1975. There were resolute petitioners who decided to fight for their rights: they they wrote for their rights: fight decided to who petitioners resolute There were 635 The last sentence was probably meant to be an ideological reprimand from the from reprimand ideological an be to meant probably was sentence last The 636 After he received the flatlist of his plant, 268 CEU eTD Collection consideration. Further, the many checks in the system (flat distribution committees, distribution in system many (flat checks the the Further, consideration. complaint to befor all to and complaintonce settled”. of your case your name will lackand toiletexternal the morea bath. of according inform Ionce you urgency tothe that appear on the list of the inflatroom 41and atwo-room Mühlenstr. in flat St.131)because Dornburger next of the year. That said, I regardall morethe incomprehensibleme to that you have refused two offers foryour old flats (a three- is That’s why it town. situation the of flat tense the you about My told colleagues respect. political requirements of Ninth the donotParty Congress. I any tolerate indeviation this areinline social the my with decisions and of my year.I am fully aware responsibility, I can that personally solve socialurgent special cadre problems or duringproblems the so my disposal at contingent a special is there Third, question. in this me to responsible arefully of plants managers the the Second, in year. each aflatcontingent receives housing.employees following:every First, with respect to Ihavedecided the plant factory. According the regulations to of factory has1973 the fullresponsibility forits repeated complaint Itake the opportunity explainto you to once more the flat policy the of though itwas most probably by written of one his administrators: “In my your answer to my answer to a concrete question!” I expect conditions? longcrucial live How question: wehave to child with our underthesemiserable that the age of the child aboutthem.I was told be not concrete was could butthey criteria’ of ‘summary tothe referred not important. For us They justify decisions. these to unable was who committee flatdistribution cases,the concrete are concerned, it is, however, a 638 637 fact, prove the prove fact, UACZ, VANr. 3741, Ihre erneute Eingabe vom 24.04.1980, 08. 05.1980. UACZ, VANr. 3741, Eingabe 24.04.1980. The reply was characterized by the authoritarianism of the managing director, even managing director, the of by authoritarianism the The reply was characterized The correspondence between the persistent petitioner and the chief manager does, in does, manager chief the and petitioner persistent the between The correspondence opposite of of his argument:his social all,situation intowas, after taken 638 637 269 CEU eTD Collection she would makeanewshe would complaint”. She would like to have a dream flat that we cannot offer to her at the moment. She said that years thatshedeclined. in two four offers acceptable her received only.with She problem though the members of the committee are trying to help Miss R, they are not ready to deal “even that ended statement the with report undergrew up capitalism”.The who comrade, a 64-year-old to this question Sheput conditions. similar lived under hadever committee flat the of members the we, whether know to wanted She mouths’. their open to dare don’t isR, she colleagues badanswered ‘iteverythingthat enough other that accept andthey people as this…. After the members of the flat committee discussed the problem with Miss these describe cannot one and AWU, in live children with mothers and people young inJena many flatsituation of tense because the However, pigs’. were‘dirty tenants other “asforit,for AWU-rooms oldflats twobecause, the and sheput refusedoffers two another during the personal A discussions of theirflatproblem. instance, certain forMiss R, manner some samedisrespectful is usedthe evidence that people but there committees, language. thedisrespectful tolerated therefore bodies official the and passions, venting of function psychological the had also petitioning that of housing policy not affect did negatively chancesof the man: stubborn the this suggests forflats were all entitled tothisbenefit. Itis, however, remarkable that the sharp criticisms were waiting who and applicants the that inprotected, strongly fact, of were, rights people priority lists, letters of complaint and the need to justify decisions) show that the social 639 they they help everythingdid This to her. that againshows the officials wereexpected to the provocative conduct of Miss R, it was important for the committee to demonstrate that from openly criticizing living conditions in the GDR in front of the flat committee. Despite UACZ, VA Nr. 934, Aussprache mit Kollegin R am 4.2.76. Unfortunately, there are very few accounts of the activities of flat distribution flat activities of ofthe very few accounts are there Unfortunately, 639 It is quite remarkable that Miss R did not refrain 270 CEU eTD Collection the GDR was considered to be a political threat, all the more so because the following the because more all so the threat, be apolitical to GDRwas considered the the moral code of the party. respect to were expected of party members the the reveals that it butalso post) responsible for education, selection (party work, party the helpthe of with career a “typical” for party secretary. comradeconfirmed Dwasacandidate that also family. hiswould report with The he with andhe hiswife stay seekreconciliation would that declared he Eventually, problems. marital his resolve to times many him asked party most of years hespent his free of with a lover. because time this time During the members knowledge. Thereportcommented thathis family relations hadfor been tense one and half his without his sent by wife waswritten letter and the outthat itcomradeturned D, for abiggerflat”. application for in education high engineering,Iwouldgivelike toaskyou to our a reply positive to be after the party school the group,andsupposed to I am secretary our Iam candidate of a home. My wife also studies. For this reason there are a lot of conflicts in our family. Sinceroom flat. I am attendingand in six-year-old children a two- my son (a and old atwo-and-half-year daughter) two a one-year-courseto intervene in privatelivesthe of its members to defend the family:at “Ilive with my wife party school, and party leadHungary,“decent” family life. the caseshowsthat attempted a The to following I have to study a lot theat party were evidently comment). expected toold comrade hadinlived everAWU heldbe was to a evidently negative political show 64-year- the whether of a question the though higher (even people of situation social the consider level of conformity; and like in 641 640 UACZ, VANr. 3741, Untersuchungsbericht zur Eingabe des Gen D, 17.03.1983. UACZ, VANr. 3741, Eingabe, 28.02.1983. While petitioners could freely complain of poor living conditions, the threat toleave of Members consequences. more serious had, however, of complaint letters Some 640 According to the report during the discussion with discussion during the report the According to 641 The case introduces The case 271 CEU eTD Collection particularly shocking, and he could not easily accept it. He maintained, though, that the that maintained, though, it. He easily accept not he could shocking,and particularly child’ my with state in this live to strength no have ‘I sentence the found “He mailing: its and know hehave prevented hedeclaredthat of would himself didnot letter husbandthe andincorrect false The letter her contained statements. that husband, sherecognized inshop stewards both tradeunion.the withmy child”. this state flatan before theendget adequate because Ihave yearlivemoreno of in strength this to waiting we can only get an AWU-flat and even this is too small. Ihope that my family will of years six after that unjust very it find I another. into AWU one from move to senseless is it that I think but AWU-flat two-room wasa we received that offer last The conditions. miserable livehaveof these to threenow under us year so right Last wehadababy bed. fora room finally was no m² abed. got haveadouble of 12 wecould room Then we and there because a couch years wecould on in only forwhere sleep three Welived room this 9 m² sloping with Halfyear walls. laterIgotmarried my husbandand in me. moved with where Ihad only a bedand ashelf I could that callmyhome. In1977 I received aroom of yearsgeta ten flat. Whenbigger to Jena, Ilivedforyears to inI came three a dormitory, room in a house. This room was wet with mould fungus on the walls. It took my mother in conditions: poor when my I wassix,gotdivorced andparents my mother and Igotone years in asmallfurnished room of nurses’the hostel. Since my I havechildhood hadlived nurse women’s atthe lived clinichaveWe Friedrich the of University.Schiller for seven technologistin the optical precision instruments’ plant of VEB Carl Zeiss Jena. I work as a letter was addressed to the Council of Ministers of the GDR: “My husband is a 642 UACZ, VANr. 4617, Eingabe anden Ministerrat derDDR, 14.03.1983. The woman refused to appear in front of the committee because, according to her to according because, committee of in frontthe appear to refused The woman 642 The woman also mentioned that she and her husband were husband her and she that mentioned also woman The 272 CEU eTD Collection the new flat: “Two weeks ago colleague Mrs P invited me for a discussion with the me forwith a discussion P invitedcolleague Mrs weeks ago new “Twoflat: the management of hostelthe where shelived refused tostoreher furnitureshe that boughtfor the and her, hadpromised committee flat distribution the that flat one-room receive the not did she that complaint the with manager chief the to turned woman young a consideration: special received mothers single of situation the that is There evidence administrators. suggestletters in the comments The flats. of allocation the for criterion important an was thatapplicants those the of social situation the that prove unambiguously infact, letters, new the flats, times for who were housing includingshortage on workers, the primitiveAWU conditions of andlong waiting in a difficult situationproblems of people. could social be tothe attentive to itin was alsoof interests officials the that reveals however, rely on the sympathy of Wohnungsangelegenheit Frau X, 27.04.1983. 644 GDR-citizenship. problem was causedby between flow slow offices. information the of the moveda nursethe mother while to single the flat. According reportthe two-room the to family tothe of flatwas thenallocated mistake. flat by This a child athree-room received flat since familyhadbeen the problem solved.already In1983asinglemotherof the with mistake administrative an becauseof waswritten letter the that stated any rate, was, at blame state”. for not hercase which shedoes of tounderlinejust our urgency wanted the she that They concluded a shopsteward. as union trade inthe sheactive that was account intoif took letterone particularly hada hermade it message, toherthat political clear colleagues family.the bad of The conditions living convinced the of they personally were where home her in woman the visited member another and committee the of chairperson sentenceno had political message, and hiswife didleaving notthink the of GDR. 643 UACZ, VA Nr. 4617, Untersuchungsbericht UACZ, 4617, VA Nr. zurStaatsrat- und Ministerrats -Eingabeder in People could apply for a permission to leave the GDR ( While the cited documents reported many problems relating to the impact of many the impact of reported the relating problems to While cited documents the Ausreiseantrag ), which meant the loss of their 644 Thecase, 643 The 273 It CEU eTD Collection really need alarger room for my furniture. Iwould like toaskfor your support”. she mespoke with inthismanner. Iam no longer willing deal to with and colleague, this I your problem. By 30 September the room should be cleared’.help totally to me.reluctant She yourme: can told ‘You furniture put on that’s street, the It was not the first time that managementlet hostel.me of didnot speak She the and explain the situation and was she 646 645 The inquiry confirmed that the woman worker lived under difficult conditions and she and livedconditions difficult under womanthe worker that confirmed The inquiry an family.itnotis case?!!” Iaskour Manager, urgent Now youComrade Chief again, haveadd to that I have a fiancé liveswho with us, so you can imagine the tense situation in and he thinks that he is responsible for his education. Iam deprived myof parental rights! I me myistreats as My my of a child infront father not alsourgent?!! Manager, son case my precedence Iaskyou,cases over Comrade Chief take urgent that Now problem. more are there that answer the received years I four waiting of after now, and flat, room born and our flat became too small because I also have a sister. In 1975 I applied for atwo- bath in the cellar. The children’s hasroom no heating either. Fiveyearsmy ago son was bedroom, a children’salready 27. We live in an old house(builtin which 1939), room,consists of a living room, a a small room thatneverhave receivedlive my even anyreprimands. together I with parents though I am can’t be heated, a electrician in VEBCarl Zeiss Jena,whereIwork now. Ihave resultskitchen, and hadgood Ihave a toilet andresults a if the social situationfor words. herheartless reprimand received astrong of theifsurvivedhave investigationprovedthe MrsPwould be but complaintthe true, to writers not has reply, unfortunately, The “Scandal!!!”. wasmarked with comment the letter justified urgent help: “I trained to be an UACZ, VANr. 3453, Eingabe 09.04.1980. UACZ, VANr. 3453, Eingabe 23.09.1980. The following two cases are cited to show that letters of complaint could lead toreal 645 The 274 646 CEU eTD Collection to have children at a particular time may have been motivated by the desire to obtain new obtain a by desireto the motivated been may have time a particular haveat to children adecision however, time, same Atthe space. same the occupy to had as many generations Early marriages and the birth of children rendered the waiting time for aflats very difficult, home. intheparental conditions thefamily show, livedincramped letters asthe because, werein situation latter Often difficulthelp. rely the a more notparental who couldon dependent on the factory was system group the that functionedpractice.inof The largest flatallocation the for housing were either the new settlers, or casepersonally. the deal with those local people and chiefmanager the would that her urgent casewasregardedassocially reassured that situation”. untenable our more of once beconvinced can they so that any flatat time our canvisit committee end misery. flat our The to solution find aspeedy family.ask youimprovelike to thisIwouldFor to to our unite reason oursituation and inworks samethe plantandhe hasaroom m²,of 6 thisis complaint ouronly opportunity fiancé my Since list. priority the on appear not does my name that however, learnt, have I Now flat. aftervisited they our my wasurgent case decided that committee distribution flat The morning. inthe bathroom the use can others the that so early very up get common use of the kitchen and bath. Since we all start working at the same time, I have to room mine.A further even putachildren’sbedinherthan problem is can’t She room. the with my daughter. My sister also lives with her child in the flat and she has an even smaller conditions in the parental flat: “I have a room of 8,5 m² tohercase. attend in my parents’ flat where personally he would that manager promised chief the letter: her to reply a positive received I live 647 UACZ, VANr. 3455, Eingabe 06.12.1982. Even all casesthe of described individualsituations and problems,they show how The second case was that of a woman who lived with her daughter under similar 647 The woman was Thewoman 275 CEU eTD Collection flat. 648 with the neighbours it is notlike as it used to be. In the earlier time we had a – it was called thisnow, peoplework, is home then different goto go they […] andtheylock their doors […] fêtes work somewhere youth together after went or colleagues the were there school, people wentbowling, they garden partiesorganized orwhen childrenthe firstwent to solidarity Wegreater colleagues. the among metfrequently morein – also – workplace the recalled with a senseloss of in “In many interviews: GDR eralife-history wasmuch there of flats. In a similar only colleagues, neighbours,given butalso thethat various plantsreceivedwhole blocks fashion not were Zeiss-employees ensuredthat estates new housing and the inhostels, together to Hungary, the strengthening of based identities collective workplace. the around people Young lived intense community community life, centralized mechanisms for distributing housing contributed a to life in the GDR was dependence. patriarchal itof patterns reinforced but factory), in the consideration situation received people of workforce. It helped maintain a certain level of social justice (it was shown that the social of their forthesocial problems responsible alarge extent factory to the rendered allocation flat of system The anewhome. needed for this employee another, created problem one heavily and in engaged violence drunken familyagainst members from home:their solving party. asked Others formanagement help the expelof in to order a husband drank who opportunities sucha system denounceprovided their workplace to tothe partners ortothe problems such divorce andas werejealous adultery, there and spouses used the who family addressed of complaint Letters sphere. intoprivate the intervention employer degreeof ita high enabled but system, security social work-based comprehensive Informationfrom the life-history interviews. 648 The social responsibilities of the enterprises towards its workers created a While the letters of complaint understandably focused on the negative aspects of aspects onthenegative focused of letters understandably complaintWhile the 276 CEU eTD Collection themselves”. is nowagain at homeis butit nottheir problem.Today people areconcerned only about … peoplecare about don’t neighbours;their they hearmighthe that isshe unemployed or many thatusedtobethings natural but today arenot. Today they everybody is uninterested nursery again, everyfamily hadwork, kindergarten could people the children send to – or everybody had workand a stable income.Very few people had really big problems. Isay equally, treated was everybody almost or everybody GDR, inthe natural were that things thinkabout have to they more stressed, much are people today I think that thedoor. close they and meet, if they other each to afternoon” “Good say: they stairs, the on neighbours own problems life. people and from withdrawcommunity chat with don’t their People together, itis different now, people don’t doit any longer because everybody has his or her hadtime nights agood organized, club people were alot, there together people sat children,moved when firstmainly ortwo flats, 23-24 we wewereall our around to one, repaired their cars, they had a chat. Today people don’t repair their cars, they take them to them take they cars, their repair don’t people Today a chat. had they cars, repaired their four men always in yard, or three were they the there Saturdays, on instance way. For inthisdoes neighbourhood. Idon’t know why kind has work of the developed inthis this each other, was there they social forwork, environment. somethingdid the Today firm a helped neighbours The toeach hadother. they abeerand talked they afire, people made on Saturdays, small parties were infront Orthere of house. in the garden the I meanhere, were mentionedneighbourhood inmanyinterviews: “People usedother to organize parties, roleimportant in Regularsocial networks. social and contact common in activities the a housing community ( 649 Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (48). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation The living communities that were formed on newly built housing estates played an 649 Hausgemeinschaft ) in these houses, we were all young people with young people all wewere ) in houses, these 277 CEU eTD Collection share their ideas or problems with their friends, that’s why they turn inside”. themselves away and thatsit togetherwant andperhapsto speakthey they that are afraid of their things, give others take an advantage don’t yearbuttoday people partieshouse a twice were There too. they disappeared, have of them. Today theywerenice and houses, in parties the more children’s people organized was, together, people are afraid to like it stayedsit not intheflats; everybody asitwas together, not people did disappeared, has After ’89this ourselves. enjoyed wereparties, we there together, alot age, wedid families of similar flats inthe house, 44 were house–there of our collective life. the Take life the thatfall declined GDR: and“Solidarity after inat work the of declined both private partof a communal were communities housing many the partners interview According to Sometimesisgarage. it Ithink that difficulttomake withfriends new neighbours”. 651 650 moved there. You can see from here the houses… to the left. I moved afterwards because it because left.moved the afterwards I can to houses… see from here You the moved there. Eisenhüttenstadt –Idon’t if know namesaysthe something you –many to young people in factories largechemical the inJena,and likeZeiss many. Therewerefactories were a fact, there That’s flats. the of Jenabecause many to came people time Atthat months. housing: “I started work at Zeiss in May 1968 and in October I already received aflat. Five positively after unification,such forever by Whiletheir newoccupants. life community in GDRwasseen the their nostalgia as regarded not flats”were “dream Yet accommodation”. of“mass types in various years did for notlive to had if they spreadparticularly flats, first their to move could they when happy tovery their view of the quality probably most people were from Indeed population. the of gratitude feeling flat generated of the expectations, official the to According factory. the and workers between relationship distribution undoubtedly reinforced feeling of community and strengthened the Quotation from an interview with a man worker, former brigadier (51). brigadier former worker, man a with interview an from Quotation (49). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation Regardless of how one evaluates community in the GDR, the system of flat of system in the GDR, the community how evaluates one of Regardless 651 278 650 CEU eTD Collection building isin avery bad state (the gutters are broken, the plaster falls off, and the windows common stairwell. There is no drying room so we have to dry our washing in the flat. The andis in a shower toilet nor the the flathasm²). abath neither (10 The share abedroom andmyhas it no and heating. So eight-year olddaughter sonhave my two-year-old to use old Wecannot building. largestroom the in (11 m²) is becauseitwinter wetandcold conditions of my family (four ofpeople) the new are housesvery different. would be We internal 42-45% showers flatsand76% of 68%have bathsor toilets. with the are equipped given live into a working-classflat of 48 m² in an people.least26 m²peoplebetween 1971andhaveadult at their that 1986and atdisposal. Further, I have to say that flats new the families arguesthattwo-thirds received working-class Thereport of interest. living 30 in the inthe policy social our about article the read have “I years: for waiting despite state, welfare social socialist the of margins following letter is cited to show that there(and thus, upwardmobility) waslargely dependent on theirideological reliability. The were people who felt that they were for higherof by candidates education the selection party, controlled the the education) was cast to the adult (including and, others education the over since enjoyedan advantage experts social program. Furthermore, in the light of the letters connections continued to matter: flats asfringe thanthe realization the peopleof benefits rather regarded an egalitarian Many behind regime. the thepopulation meansof rallying bestambiguous was an at policy social state evaluated, positively was community While GDR. in the housing with were”. My son is not married andyou flat,was couldif ahaveonly flata two-room you gettwo-room not […] children. did he has a flat. I find this good. He is better off now than we 652 Quotation from an interview with amanworker (58). 652 The letters of complaint and life-history interviews suggest considerable discontent considerable suggest interviews life-history and complaint of letters The th January January 1987 issue of Volkswacht with 279 CEU eTD Collection publication publication should following.“Itwere the be, all, how above underintroduced socialist und and dein Werk”(You your The plant). most important aspects of conceptforthe the “Du characteristically called was of publication the title factory. The the and collective the survived,its main which that underlined stress was purpose workers’ identificationto with work planthe special publication enterprise, a the of nationalization of the anniversary of In1973,when factory 25 movement. the socialistcelebrated brigade Zeiss the the littleincluding documentation for undertaken social the of activities purpose, this were that is very survived, have there factory not of the leadership of party the of books meetings the factory – as we have seen with the example of housing“Du unddein Werk” - given the fact that the minute which authoritarianism and justicesocial were often paradoxically combined. letter reinforces the picture of a tense relationship between the workers and managementin inyourmatter”. support this complaint as my only opportunity to improve my living conditions. I would like to ask for this consider I above, I described that circumstances the Because of more. any them trust impression theconsciously flatdistribution me,just that committee deceived soI don’t in sixteen years 1971butafter file of waiting Iwas new to told have application. a the I andmy shifts. husband workers blue-collar on two works Iapplied aco-operative flat for fourmy of son, us livedinI received aflat for twopeople. that My andIareboth husband my baby inhalf a in myroom my house.After secondparents’ marriage birth and the of it,livedinI accepted becausewith that flatI this 1978 received can’t beclosed properly). I 653 UACZ, VANr. 5170, Eingabe, 30.03.1987. Even though Even though buildingcommunity was integral an part of laborpolicy the the of 653 The answer of the chief manager has not survived but the but survived not has manager chief the of answer The 280 th CEU eTD Collection patronized by Within factory. of our program framework the this 6,779 pupils participate from 229.Currently,219 to are20schools there with 11,650 children around are who only 389 participants. At same the time ofbrigades the number won that titlethe increased all of these with his work, with his initiative, with his collective, with his personality”. GDR and of the socialist world system and thereby the defense of peace. And he is part of the narrative so that he can commit tomemory that his work serves the strengthening of the Labor” ( in for now participate contest of titlethem “Collective the the of Socialist 401 brigades the brigades664 infrom hasincreased 598 to plantsthe ofJena (including Saalfeld). Outof of number of yearthe the “Since beginning the by collective: factory the undertaken use theDu-form determined futurethe of the Zeissfactory. In order to have an emotional effect,you should decisively that years place ago 25 took landmark event – a process determined historically outline of the past 25 years of the VEB Carl Zeiss Jena buthistorical givenot to isThe idea a ofpower. producersandproprietors, possessors the to show that – as a result of a with intelligentsiathe – under the leadership of the party manifest– themselves as socialist results of the socialist work contest. pledges andthe brigades work collectives) the of purposeful (the of socialistthe activities You should represent how the workers in you shouldinfluences of Inthisrespect bourgeois ideologies. relevant, the describe partnership biasesand the we havetoovercome because conflicts place without cannot take that process is a It workplace. the in collective their of help the with personalities socialist be conditions –inparticular people themembers working leadingthe of to class–aretrained VEB Carl Zeiss Jena. Zeiss Carl VEB 655 654 ThStARudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-4/13/124,Konzeption zu„Duund die Werk“ terms). familiar on (speaking of „Sie instead „Du” as someone address To A report of 1973 gave the following account of voluntary social work that was voluntary that followingA accountof of work social 1973 gavethe report Kollektiv der sozialistischen Arbeit Kollektiv dersozialistischen 654 , so you will directly address the reader and immediately engage him in him engage immediately and reader the address directly will you so , ) while at the beginning of the year there were there year the of beginning the at ) while 655 281 CEU eTD Collection work was needed to increase the number of of shiftworkers. number increase the wasneeded to work ideological andmore inadequate still were rationalization of results socialistof process the protection”. The report,were 3,309however, proposals for the improvement of working conditions, concluded work culture and labor that participation of members 80% of the brigades. of the Out 7,300contributionsthe there despite these results, ofthe responsibility tempo and the that there expressesactively engagedin solution theincreasing consciousness the problems.the of It were 2,100 meetings thethat socialist discussed work contest the and theplan discussion of 1974 of the with youth actthe show that young people are kept a distance from the party and politics. With respect to the politics of identity With politics factory a distance respecttothe of kept party and politics. from the in theinstrument plant, atany rate, suggest that the majority theof old guard of the factory what extent this project was successful. ideological andoppressive climate itis thelackof determinesurvey evidence difficultto to The cited documents of the investigationbonds of 1969 between stronger hadsystem new, socialist established the underlineitnecessary that considered to the workers World as Second late War-survived beginningthe as of functionaries 1970s,andthe the and the before factory the of policy social the generous the and ownership of form is the that factory than did the capitalist system. Given the proportion youth of whoour participated in“Messe der Meister von Morgen” Thehigh than more participants. youth with 20,000 were 480 festival:programs there youth in for itself tenth manifested the world preparation activities particularly our of 2,000 employees in work of factory.the 82cultural the political and groups The cultural 12 in of the and training programs arein comprehensive schools 445pupilswho 11 the Rationalisierung und Verbesserung derArbeits- und Lebensbedingungen. langfristigenPlanung und EntwicklungLeitung, des geistig-kulturellenideologischen der bei Jena Lebens Zeiss in Einheit Carel VEB mit des dersozialistischen IKL/SED der Erfahrungen 1973, November 657 656 ThStA ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera, IV C-2/3/126, Sekretariatssitzung vom 29 Fair of the Future Experts. It was organized at the level of the district. th classes are engaged in the scientific-political programs of our institutions. More than More institutions. our of programs scientific-political in the engaged are classes The cited documents suggest that memory of the special nature of of nature memory- Zeiss’s history suggest special The citedof that documents the 657 656 (88%), th and 282 CEU eTD Collection political commitment. political conscientiously work people that themanagers of of one comment the recalling is worth it consciousness, and especially working-class with ideologiesofficial engagement socialistof proprietary 658 IKL but also the town of Jena, where there is much beto done in this respect because some notonly concerns and diverse comprehensive be more to needs work this criticism that should pay more attention “Thein IKL more liberal - district: the –or “unreliable” be ideologically to was regarded to concrete town whole the that suggests contribution following The political everybody”. from achievement work with the levelof ahigh production, demand our masses than a higherrate increase at as weall know, that, in the future. The increasing shouldneeds of them the You population that the whole to the explain republic. should be fully conscious of their personal responsibility for the ongoing development of andthey picture a clear get should employees the all of that require domestic policies supply the consumerof goodsand the wide rangeof questions concerningforeign and masses is of a remarkably low standardin factory. Zeiss the Themuch problemsdebated of share all we the“Certainly response: hostile sharply a with met was opinionrationalization socialist improve that theparty concreteorganization of theorganization factory; at least at a meeting ofemployees. in the1978 the dailywork with workersoffensive itselfmanifested the party the amonglanguage, the skepticismcampaigns of towards to work over-ideologized the despite reveal that comments Such have results. notdid tangible with the rationalization socialist and process that acontested was of enterprise the nationalization thatthe admission for the instance eras, of previous andattitudes conflicts of the Bericht der IKPKK (Gen. W), op., cit. Welche Probleme sieht der Betriebsleiter? der sieht Probleme Welche cit. op., W), (Gen. IKPKK der Bericht The leadership of the district was also discontented with the political work of the because of their old loyalty to the factory, rather than because of their of because than rather factory, the to loyalty old their of because 658 Beyond militant party Beyondisparty language it militant detect possible the signs to 283 CEU eTD Collection very similar to those of their Hungarian counterparts: participation ineducation, adult participation counterparts: of their those Hungarian to very similar undertaking of special control ofspecialcontrol undertaking tasks. and as fulfillment plan the of the listedsuch thereweregeneral targets pledges objectives were more important for community building thanfor production.Amongstits work reinforces brigades factory in the argument diary whose the archive. It that the survived brigade brigade wastheonly Allende”“Salvador The factory. in brigades socialistthe figures regarding activity of arenooverall closely there Unfortunately, determined. more of rationalization and methods the results socialist neither were if few, any concrete This, at least, explains that people. the and party between the improve relations the aimedto mainly campaigns thethe work with the masses – on the that suggest documents above the cited even production, inincreases lead to to expected basis of the account – had undertook undertook task the of sparing 30working with employees hours helpthe of rationalization.socialist the latter the of framework the Within plant. instrument optical the in 30” 04.02.1985, 14.00 Uhr. „SalvadorAllende“ zur10. Wiederholverteidigung des Staatstitels „Kollektiv dersozialistischen Arbeit“ am 661 innovation movement ( movement innovation the number of young workers who received awards for their quality work, the results of the IKL, not surprisingly, stressed the results of political economic of bebetter the problemsthrough alone”. Thereport solved cannot propaganda work, amongst others the increase of Zeithistorische Studien Produzentender oderFreizeitpolitik? Betriebliche Kulturarbeitvor 1970’, op.(eds.), cit., 1999,413-438. For astudy of cultural life factories inthe see: Schumann, Annette ‘Veredlung Konfliktregulierungder zwischenArbeitsbrigaden und der Werkleitung’, in:Hübner-Klaus Peter Tenfelde op. cit., 1995, 212-232. Fortheir role in conflict management see: Jörg Roesler,‘Die Rolle des Brigadiers bei 660 und dersozialistischen Rationalisierung? sozialistischenIntensivierung, besonders zurBeschleunigung des wissenschaftlich-technischenFortschritts offensivepolitische Massenarbeiteine inden Zeiss Partei-IKL der und Arbeitskollektiven organization] base zur weiteren Vertiefung GO[GO=Grundorganisation, derdie entwickeln Wie 1978, September 659 Kle Sozialhistorisches Novum oderModifizierung betriebspolitischer Traditionen?’ in: Peter Hübner– ChristophGewerkschaftlichorganisierte KulturarbeitIndustriebetriebendenin DDRderden fünfziger in Jahren: UACZ,1205,GB Brigadebuch, Nr. Abrechnung des Brigadeplanes/Kampfprogramms 1984 Brigadeder On the establishment of socialist brigades, their structure and their role in production see: Peter Hübner, Peter see: production in role their and structure their brigades, of socialist establishment the On ThStA Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera,der IV SekretariatssitzungD-2/3/102, vom 28 ȕ mann -Klaus Tenfelde (eds.), op. cit., 2005, 271-289. Although political campaigns (including the socialist brigade movement) were movement) brigade socialist the (including campaigns political Although , 29 no. (2003), 73-78; id., ‘Macht die Betriebe zuZentren derKulturarbeit’: Neuererbewegung 661 The brigade’s cultural and social activities were activities social and cultural Thebrigade’s ) andmass the movement entitled “Initiativpa Postdamer Bulletin für 284 659 660 ȕ CEU eTD Collection GDR thanin Hungary. morewhich suggests political that workwasexpectedfrom brigades socialistthe in the “Salvador Allende”studying brigade also themselvescommitted to media, the Soviet brigade, brigade and evenings patronagethe ofschool Thechildren. membersof the Women’sInternational Day, families common with membersexcursions of the of the the movie (visits programs Sovietfilm tothe festival), bowling, celebration the of the 662 people values tothe more responsive of community the hadjoined. they brigades undoubtedly played arole in This process. the type of socialization rendered andsocialist events, fêtes, sporting common the collective, factory the into integration and reinforced lifecommunity of established AWUinevitably the closeryoung among contacts people, feelingspractically together with thisnew collective. The dormitories, the common trainingof and the solidarity.distant andvillages towns be trainedto inJena who andthose settled in towngrew up the Even many1960s too: from social the ofitsyoung personnel peoplecomposition changed, came though thereto the factoryis no itself.documentation majority factory’sthe of guardtoitsold cause, this probably influence notdid their attitude In addition,the over win not could party the that evidence some is there though Even withconsciousness. ofthe rapidtheir increase socialist of buildingcommunity project wassuccessful itandshaped how popular of the workforce from the late only,peoplebut that didindeed in participate common the activities. that brigadeThe accompanying photographs lifeshowed existnot merely did on paper areadingwalking Women’s andin forest, Day. the group, International celebration of the wine-tasting, libraries, to visit cinema, the at nights excursions, tours, life: community Ibid. On the basis of contemporary sources it is very difficult to see what extent the extent what see to difficult very is it sources contemporary of basis the On 662 The accounts in the brigade diary recorded various aspects of aspects various diary inthebrigade recorded Theaccounts 285 CEU eTD Collection the time of the GDR. We went on excursions, held common festivals to celebrate “The with united together disappeared muchsystem: in socialistthe collective was better declined. workplace solidarity and consequently human amongthat and contacts workmates output”. same goal buthelp each other. Today this helpthey isnotwanted. People are required towork together for the are expectedwork like that. This is a pity because people had a greater sense of togetherness, in order to to work result.helped they good and together Today them achieve not system the could a does on their others the own havepoints, enough not did ifsomeone instance for asa collective, results and to achievethe brigades it wasnot the goal that was important but collective social work, to have good the maximumachieve In agoal. to but problems tosolve achieve agoal. Not to needed isspirit actually they had common problems theto betime solved. of the Today GDR hadone a speaksverywith the individualismdifferent of andteam egoism of the newspirit system:background. “This collective but spirit thatthis existedvalues of brigades socialist the (solidarity and communality) frequently were contrasted at Peopleteam positive the helped context this In post-unification. eachsystem capitalist the under otherthan era, Honecker because was a higherlevel of communality among colleagues neighborsand during their the there that stressed partners my interview of majority overwhelming the because successful (1995),305-325;’ id., Betriebskollektivs. Zur Transformationder Sozialordnung in ostdeutschenBetrieben’, 664 663 Strukturwandels’, regionalen des Feld im Versuche Ethnografische – Transformationsfiguren. Pfadfinder Bastler, Ostdeutschland Quotation from an interview with amanworker (50). This is also supported by findingsthe of Werner Schmidt (see: id The majority The majority my interviewof partners felta change inpeople’s relation to their On basisthe oflife-history interviews, community building could be regarded as 663 664 They maintained that the communities that were built in the GDR had GDR the in built were that communities the that maintained They (Konstanz: Univ.-Verl.-Konstanz,Regina 1999); Bittner, op.cit., 1998;’Kleine id., Leute, Berliner Debatte Initial Jeder hat jetzt mitsich selbst zu tun’: Arbeit, Freizeit und politische Orientierungen in , 10, 2 (1999),no. 18-28. ., ’Metamorphosen des ’Metamorphosen Soziale Welt , 45, no. 3 286 CEU eTD Collection alcoholic”. the life.After lead anormal herto helped that brigade colleaguehad who analcohol anditproblem was precisely her environment, this socialist hadWein a was the GDRera […] differentIt keep theirjobs otherwise. they cannot that think people fightbecause a like is more it Today between colleagues. of solidarity feeling“Earliergave different totheirmembers: there wasatotally psychological support has been lost”. It today. that the flat – that was totally normal. It was totally normalhelped with each variousforother household instance, jobs, repairingthings ordecorating we helped each other. It is mutually they not privately, likemet Workmates events. – regular factory whole in the and plant inmembers, theevents inthe organized among brigade workmates, workshop, amongst inbrigade weregularly held brigade many evenings, very ourplant, There parties. were climate agood There was […] activities common were there workplace, inthe colleagues GDR we had a community. Neighbors helped each other, we had common excursions with of the previous system: “Today people bea feature heldpositive solidarity wasto that ahigherlevel of linked with arebrigades were occupied with themselves. In the period– it would be good ifof we had a littlethe time for each other!” life’ – that’s what many would tell you now. Ithurts a bit, really. People need time relaxto longer works. ‘I work here and what Ido afterwards – that’s my business, that’s my private have work, I do my work – and the others? Earlier it wasnot like that. You can try but it no rest. But it is not the same now as it used to be. The collectivethings together, we had manyis common nottrips and we whathad a rest. After work itwe always used had a to be. I Christmas in the workplace and other celebrations that we had at the time, we did many 667 666 665 Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (45). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation (60). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation (48). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation 667 666 Interview partners also told about cases toldwhen also Interview partners brigades about the 665 In this context the socialist Wende she became a real 287 CEU eTD Collection my husband was a member, and they told me that if my husband is a member, I should be a “I opinionsmany of people: wasnotamemberof because Iwaspressured party. the times community andhad incommonwork activities participation norelationship political tothe citation shows, following Asthe party andof “comrades”). the the opinion negative socialist of (none citedthe members interview partners were of party,the and manyhada socialist values (solidarity, unselfishness, equality), they did not hold the system itself beto with communities these linked partners interview many While regime. the to loyalty their factory and influenced the neighborhood working-class political andopinions strengthened of communities totheextentthe is,as however,questionable memories behind.It very if hehappy such write could now”. a diary be hewould bossinstance, is now, we have itforwhom our a pity, diaries, away, these all thrown they been have […] photos reports, were there we did what together, record for the walls, sometimes framework of brigadeorganizational the “We pledges, movement: madework newspapers it was a bit childish but […] we wrote the in brigade diary to now…”. excursion, hireda they sometimes meet ship.Workmates muchwhole less frequently was also very different framework And each well. the then,other thatunderstood formed groups andtherewere there, there were 250 people inFêtes organized. brigade workshop, everybody things…and parties…such the was then in the workshop, when therefrom wasabove an - was recognized: – organized movement of role the aspects, brigade the haditsof spontaneous workmates “One has to admit policy institutional received Whileof regimethe that strong support. mutual the assistance that earlier everything was a bit more 669 668 Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (54). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation Quotation from an interview with amanworker (57). In the light of my life-history interviews, the brigade movement left mainly positive mainly left movement brigade the interviews, mylife-history of light the In Like in the Hungarian case, community building in the GDR was a part of the labor 668 There were interview partners who reported of a kind of nostalgia for the 669 288 CEU eTD Collection Monday”. work... I enjoyed evaluate their foritto find them andtasks organizerelevant much, thevery children, to to very much. But I wouldchildren, daya become one week, andIwas Ilikedto persuaded ateaching assistant. it not have gone but Ihaveto never seen any such listsparty […] At that time there was practical training for school there not meetings were who those of names the checked they Allegedly May. 1 celebrate to forced on every me. I know this is how theyjoin andthen Iknew he join,I will that wasnotamember too. party.one forced of the No would tell it now – candidate, too.Then the woman,I told to convincehe okay, husband your should first that but it is not true. Neither were people 2001. 671 670 inevery principle to family offered highly at subsidized support prices. This kindof state institutions were inthese schools. Places andafternoon nurseries, kindergartens child care: provision of state program of byanextensive propaganda, wasencouraged this addition to withshortage fullyensuringthrough that women wereintegrated into labormarket. In the Labor policy forwomen the regimeits a critical privileged cadres. toward and attitude by however,helped necessitated Thisfavors solidarity, of shortages. reinforce kind goods’ state controlomnipotent and the interdependence of people within shadow economy the of climate, ideological by nourished oppressive the was also workers among Solidarity control. of state independent relatively which were associal spheres primarily appreciated were andthey material advantages no offered collectives for these majority, the but was so for two reasons. for two was so For a study that addresses specifically the issue of gender in the period see: Annette Schüler, op. cit., op. Schüler, Annette see: period the in gender of issue the specifically addresses that study a For (52). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation Helping working women was a central aspect of the labor policy of the regime; it 670 Surely there were people who could take advantage of their community of could advantage work whotheir community take were people Surely there 671 First, the government sought to solve the problem of labor of problem the solve to sought government the First, 289 CEU eTD Collection increased to 90% in to90% increased 1975. in 1972 age employed of was82,5% of working percentage the districtwomen commissions important element of thefull wasan female employment fact, (in opportunities and career in education income, state’s general egalitarianism). sexes the between level differences the wasto aim second The chores. household complete Thanks to women enable to also but toemployment, female theencourage to only not workmeant was of women’s 677 676 675 674 Berufstätigkeit derFrau. 673 672 enough afternoon schools in the town. There are general figures with respect to the whole to the figureswith respect general Thereare town. schools inthe afternoon enough not were there that critically commented Reports lay a average. below national the bit (number of pernumberplaces of while children) proportion the of kindergarten places the whole a as GDR the in than nurseries in places more proportionally offer could town with 856 places andtwoafternoon schools with 172 places in town of the Jena. employment. In 1976 itmaintained nurseries eight with 407 places, ninekindergartens speak of almost full female employment in the district and the town. women:women in93% of were employed. 1976, in some plantssuch as the optical a women constituted plant majority (60%). 43,5% in in1980. Thelocated Zeiss-plants Jena had aworkforce was that 42% female, and factory showed aslightincrease:it was 37,8% in1960,39,4% in1970, 40,3% 1975 and education). (for instance, respect to with that maleof counterparts their than documented better is factory Zeiss inthe workers women of situation the enterprises, Ibid. UACZ,VA Nr. 1583, Unterlagen zurDirektion Kultur- und Sozialwesen,1976. ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-2/17/612, Frauenarbeit. ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-4/13/115, Frauenkommission. Abrechnung UACZ, 487, WB Nr. derFrauenarbeit 1980 nachSchwerpunkten, Entwicklung der party. by the controlled were commissions women’s The The factory provideThe factory to madefullefforts considerable female for conditions Between 1960 and proportion 1980the of women among employees the the of 672 whose task was to assist and control the realization of these goals in the 675 The town of Jena had a similarly high proportion of working of proportion high similarly a had Jena of town The 676 In the light of these figures we can 674 673 677 , and it and , In the In The 290 CEU eTD Collection in 1970nearly 500 women were in situation inthis Jena alone. because get work places nursery not kindergarten could forthey their children or women out of the employees of the factory (including all plants outside Jena) could not and by respectively.was demonstrated 2,859 improvement This in factthe 141 that 1980, 2,206 numberswhile in were these 1980 places, nursery andhad 2,762kindergarten 1,749 institutions for delivering childcarein secondhalf the of in 1970s: the 1976thefactory of the factory including plants outside Jena that show a slight growth in the capacity of the (ThStA (ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera, IV C-4/13/115, Frauenkommission, op. cit.). 680 nurseries kindergartensand (Frauenarbeit, op.cit.). that around 1,000 women679 could not work 678 in the whole district in 1973 because of the lack of places in the reflected also in the development of female of employment. alsoin development the reflected demandthe claimedfullyfor that be places child-care could was satisfied. almost This as the report commented).as the it Duringreport of was period this task the women’s the commissions in 18,1% decrease in 1980 (aslight with comparison previousthe year,whenitwas 19,3% proportion of part-time part-time-workers: their inworkers proportion was 19,5% in1973 and 20,8% 1980. was almost the same2,234 (95%) werewomen. Aroundone-fifth femalethe of employees of factory the were among the women workers: accordinga 1973 workers: report to out of 2,347part-timethe workers of Zeissfactory the it was supply Thisconsumer goods). of explains high the proportion of women among part-time in itwasusually information instance, women. criticized the (For reports who women the survivingthe documentsshopping suggest that andprovisioning werelargely of task the householdhow make aboutcannot statements wasdivided general within work family, the The proportion of part-time workers among women was considerably higher, 34,1% in the district. the in 34,1% higher, considerably was women among workers of part-time proportion The estimated report Another cit. op. 1970, November 12 Zeiss, IKL der Sekretärs 1. des Informationsbericht UACZ,WB 487,Nr. Abrechnung der Frauenarbeit1980 nach Schwerpunkten. Full Full femalehad, employment however,anegativeEven side,too. though one 679 It can Itbe correctly 678 680 while The 291 CEU eTD Collection to win over women for full-time employment full-time for women over win to Teilzeitarbeit in der DDR,1957 bis 1970’, 681 Optik-Betrieb, 21.April 1976. 683 682 42. or nursery on time because pickmy that ‘Ihave earliertheir up to from reasoning workplace kindergarten the children they are always commission thepaid special attention to fullthe use of working hours: “Many leavewomen last’. An inquiry leave there. their children mothersto refused be because closed found that all of thesewere not willing workin to also The shifts. mentionedreport that the shiftnursery had to children small had who mothers the and workers) skilled young of recruitment mass the with of an inthefactory, staffs hadplantaverage ageof 23 (because youngest one of the shift in report of women undertook commission thatthe work the the 1976; workers added was also an integral part of this policy. In the optical plant of the Zeiss factory 15% of the agenda of the women’s commission, but improvement of the conditions of working women for as long as they had small children. interests manywomenwould of mothersworking since preferredworking part-time have budget). family the for enough was money (the calculations financial and husbands; of attitude of children; aninadequate supply goods; householdof consumer chores; negative the during places the insufficient discussions: afternoon the issuessupervision schools, in the up came jobs full-time to obstacles” “ideological following The grounded. well be very to had they and time of only period for adetermined be couldgiven contracts new part-time they had regulardiscussions with to part-time workers end. this among was femaleworkers lower thanthe national industrialin average (25,8%) Zeiss, the ThStA Rudolstadt, ThStA Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera, IV C-2/17/612, Frauenarbeit, CarlZeiss Jena, UACZ,WB 487,Nr. Abrechnung der Frauenarbeit1980 nach Schwerpunkten, Teilzeitbeschäftigung. On the development of part-time female employment see:Almut Rietzschel, ’Frauenerwerbstätigkeit und The political goal of fully integrating women into the workforce was high on the 682 This shows that in this case the interest of the state as an employer preceded the Postdamer Bulletin für Zeithistorische Studien 681 : even though the proportion of part-timers of proportion the though even : Thereportunderlined that 683 The women’s The , no. 9(1997), 34- 292 CEU eTD Collection their children”. about worried being without shopping go also can they and earlier, than better life social until Thus, 18.00. women spend morecan time intheir workplace, they participate in can bein open Jena should carecenters child all the of arranged that meantimewehave the In at17.00. butparents usually uptheirchildren institutions until 17.30 picked wereopen 686 685 684 problems in the attitude of the problems intheattitudeofmanagers and stateleaders. “ management: against even sometimes women working of interests the represent however, home or they have other interests. No one wants to sit athome here. Those who grew up in at stay 50 below are who women many so where Germany West in than here different was “It Germany: in model family West more traditional the asopposed to work them to East and West Germany: many women interview partners mentioned that it was natural for the socialist system. Full female employment was stressed among the differences between of features among positive fulland employment the health care, education system, care, the people Mostfemalewere unambiguously positively child employmentevaluated. regarded of extension the and care child interviews life-history in the women, of responsibility leaders. party working the state and between women mediators be convinced to work inwork be shifts”. convinced to should who children small with mothers primarily not is it that consideration into be taken it shiftshould work, Concerning extension of only andappreciated. the recognized rarely household chores and for for responsibility the bulk of the mothers carried working that recognize to refused homemaking beyond their work in the plant. These tasks were We can conclude from our work withWe canconcludeour ideological that from bigfamilies there are a numberof Unterlagen zurDirektion Kultur- und Sozialwesen,op. cit. is mine. Stress Ibid. Even though, asthe above also remainedcomment suggests,housework mainly the 684 Despite their political commitment, the women’s commissions did, commissions women’s the commitment, political their Despite 686 This comment shows that the commissions also acted as acted also commissions the that shows comment This 685 Inmany managers the cases 293 CEU eTD Collection developed likethat”. never.I have had never Equal any –thewhole housework. with rights problems marriage country our In fixed roles. gender were there West Germany old the “In West Germany: of with that Germany, familyof East the policy contrasted consciously partners interview and play I dominoes. isthinkitlive that depressingto like In that”. some contextthis home at sit to not again, active be to want people young as worked always have and work 688 687 how ithow was”. son is so attractive then the mother should be as well [laughs] this rarely happens but this is was on holiday,my so son went there, and they said that they want to see me because if the invited to interviews, three or, four sometimes and Iwas arefusal weeks with back intwo times. applicationssent thatwere wrote Once I received an interview for a to do somethingdate onmy own. Ialways when went tothe Office of Labor, Iwas lookingI forjobs, I wanted I self-realization. not was that home… come to husband my for wait only can one bored, one needs the stress of work somehow, the children have grown up,in the afternoon unemployed for one and half years, I did not like it. That was not something for me. I was alwaysnot could payattention The right[…] towork, I would is this like.what Iwas with tiredbadhave hadin children,the becauseIwastoo conscience a I theevening, I possible. spenditnot time but Iwould morehours likedto time inaatthat was have day new“When system: childrenwerethe small,Iwouldwork haveliked part-time, to six the of experience painful particularly a was job a of loss the why was this lives; women’s our daughter our benefitedonly from My nursery.the West from acquaintances Germany, opinion my “In children: their of education the to harmful be would they that charge the Germanies; two needtodefend manyinterview the feltpartners child socialistcare against Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (48). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation Quotation from an interview with amanworker (54). In this context, the role of state-provided child care was ahotly debated issue in the 688 687 In many life-history interviews work was an integral part of 294 CEU eTD Collection harm inharm it”. existence of people and their how tolivesocial andbehave themselves in acommunity, isfor which important co- the relations. My grandson the children years home.Childcareteaches forin three family the hometheir with children also goes to nursery. I see no development of her personality. It is totally wrong to believe thatmothers have to stay at people. I thinkstrengths and weaknesses,thather knows who person individual andmore a become has shechild my daughter learntBut collectively. to live in a community,care to adaptdid herself educated children were inkindergartners the socialist well, say that they would to herother only good, as it had a positive effect on the 691 690 689 only! thingshere.” Theyalso exaggerated same wayasit the was done songs learnt communist children the that speaker] thought of the relatives Western [the and nicelearnt children they played songs, andthey Beautiful childcare.kindergartens, each other The Western better. muchGermansus. likewise don’tknow Take about socialist institutions know their with own should child-care experience:get to “Firstwe “I have always worked full-time. I left at 6 in myfull-time.“Ihave alwaysleft at 6 morning, son the Itook school, worked I the to time”. if ButIthinkwhatsoever. better part- it mothers havebeen couldthe haveworked would institutionsbad are think children. for the Idon’t they so, don’t cause harm any these that believe they Germany West In children. the to harm no did kindergarten and nursery the that now even believe I But day. long a was it – tram the catch up, them workplace,the until work last minute, thenback the tothe nursery, dress children,the pick by city the them,run to undress nursery, I hadtotakethem the to children. tram, early to children “Work wasfrom were small: 16.45.Itwas a long7.00 to day,mainlyfor the evaluated positively by whowouldeven those have preferred working part-time whentheir Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (52). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation (47). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation Quotation from an interview with amanworker (55). 691 Others thought that they were in a better situation than young mothers are today: are mothers young than situation a better in were they that thought Others 689 Some interview partners consciously contrasted the Western image of Western the contrasted consciously interview partners Some 690 Child care was 295 CEU eTD Collection (dressmaker, etc.) andetc.) were skilled workers. 49% (dressmaker, In 1974 22% of womenthe learnt wereunskilled,workers professionsother 22% workers. skilled and 24%were semi-skilled, 45%were wereunskilled, Zeiss Jena Carl of VEB the workforce of female the In 1966, 31% school. comprehensive of factory’s the of women improvement wasaclearthere duringimmediately the period opening the after With respect tothe tolow-skilledtraining groups. as women belonged disproportionately linked gender of education. egalitarian towards relations, the policies This with was course career opportunities women of was of mainmeans the which subsidizing through VEB Carl VEB Carl JenaZeiss in it 6,4% was 1974). (in men among than women among higher much still was workers unskilled of proportion higher among male of workers factory:the it was81%in 1974. that”. havestay doanything. I money,at home, enough Idon’t need…’ yes,many like I think places, today one pays 200-300 Euro. These are notcomparable. Many would say: ‘I rather and unskilled workforce were 44,6% in were44,6% and workforce unskilled 1976. 3,7%andsemi-skilled college graduates or university of femaleworkers, were 51,7% all figures of the factory (including the plants outside Jena) the proportion of unskilled all that stress?’ At that time I paid 20 Mark (Ostmark Mark 20 paid I time that At stress?’ that all andmany afterall young[…] people whotoday have children say ‘why that should Ihave working. But it was nice. There was stress but it was nice. Today I can’timagine this stress in kindergarten nursery himupat5 meantimeor and Iwas Ipicked Inthe evening. the 694 693 692 697 696 695 698 Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (54). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation GDR. of the currency of the name The Frauenarbeit, Carl Zeiss Jena, Optik-Betrieb, op. cit. ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-4/13/115, Frauenkommission, op. cit. ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-4/13/115, Frauenkommission, op. cit. Gleichberechtigt. Die Entwicklung der Frauen und Mädchen im VEB Carl Zeiss Jena Gleichberechtigt. Die Entwicklung der Frauen und Mädchen im VEB Carl Zeiss Jena 693 Apart from from Apartfull promoting female theparty employment, improvealso sought to the 697 The proportion of skilled workers was also 696 Despite the marked improvement, the improvement, marked the Despite 695 In the optical plant skilled workers skilled plant optical the In 692 ) for the nursery and kindergarten 698 According to the general to According , op. cit. 6. , op. cit.7. 296 694 CEU eTD Collection training in these classes. inthese training qualificationthe of between 1966 women: 511women finishedand 1974, vocational their education. In that year 6 other women started studyinginyear started women 6other education. In that center in attended instance, for that 1976, 99women we know, engineering economics. engineering helpeach other”. to was easier it children, small with situation, similar a in us of many were there time, that at much very you have heard of it.We were only women, we had class two days in a week […] I liked it know if I don’t class, years.was aspecial It women’s for four to bean engineer-economist two of them trained to be designers to them trained of two and economics engineering classes of attended partners of interview the (two participants regularworkingduring These the hours. classeswerevery rememberedby positively their special women’s classes ( classes women’s special inleave, candidates organized factory 1966the and paidstudy free education selected of with that of their male counterparts. be to comparable started female workforce of qualification whichthe that shows 68,6%, increased however, to with skilledof women years.The proportion workers, previous amongworkers women was in17,2% 1980, which shows aslightdecrease in comparison 701 700 formerstudent). 699 Hellmuth, op.cit.,369, 33. Tabelle). The education. high of degree a or proportionof skilled workers direct and certificate production managerswas 47%(Wolfgang Mühlfriedel- Edith leaving a high-school obtained who those of of 51% proportion 703 702 Quotation from an interview with a woman worker (51). worker woman a with interview an from Quotation Theclasses also provided lasting friendships (I have found two interview partners with the help of one The research centre that employed 4,741 people in 1975 was one of the most “elite” plants with a with plants “elite” most ofthe one was 1975 in people 4,741 employed that centre research The UACZ,WB 487,Nr. Abrechnung der Frauenarbeit1980 nach Schwerpunkten, Qualifikationsstruktur. Gleichberechtigt. Die Entwicklung der Frauen und Mädchen im VEB Carl Zeiss Jena 703 The further education of women was supported by several means. Apart from Apartfrom means. byseveral wassupported the education The further of women studied in classes specially laid on for women, and 9 participated inadultwomen,for laid and9participated on studiedspecially inclasses 702 701 In 1984, 20 women employees of the factory’s research There areno overall figures for students in high education but Frauensonderklasse 700 Special women’s classes were also organized to improve 699 ): “In 1979 I took up ): “In an 1979 Itook engineering Itrained course, ) in working) which women could study Frauensonderklasse Frauensonderklasse , op. cit. 6. and 3 in 297 in CEU eTD Collection production managers of were women managersZeiss Jena VEBCarl production of the of direct the tableIn 1972,7,1% female(See 8). managers. of than faster appointment the the age-group between age-group the 25 and 45itwas 40%. of women was 13% among finishedwho those increased in the younger cohorts: of those between 40 and 60 years of age, the proportion groups abovethe andfigures two the that the proportion show of educated women this period. proportions of university college graduatesamong womenor nearlyworkers overdoubled In 1980thegraduates. proportionsand were8,1% 5,2%respectively, the shows that which education of of education women. ( finished andamonghadwho leavingcomprehensive ahigh-school those school certificate likewise low; 18% theirwas proportion and degreeswerewomen, university and college more persistent. proved of hierarchy the top the at Indifferences reduced, weresignificantly women workers 1972 only 16% of the employees of VEB Carl Zeiss Jena who had female workforce had only the hadonly workforce female education. adult die staatliche Leitung, op. cit. 709 708 707 der Durchsetzung der bei Beschlüsse der 8thParteitages gerecht Verantwortung zu werden? 28. und Juni 1974.Rolle ihrer befähigt, politisch-ideologisch Frauen die werden Wie Leitung. staatliche die durch Jena Zeiss Carl VEB im Partei der Frauenpolitik der Durchsetzung 706 universities. and colleges technical to apply could from vocational training it offered aspecial high-school leaving certificate to the students withwhich they 705 704 Fachschulkader Frauenarbeit, Einschätzung derDurchsetzung derFrauenpolitik der Partei im VEB Carl Zeiss Jena durch Referat des Direktors W zum Frauenforum am 8. 11.1984, op. cit. Qualifikationsstruktur, op. cit. ThStARudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera, IV C-2/17/612, Frauenarbeit, Einschätzung der This was a special type of school inthe GDR that was meant to give education after training UACZ,WB 564,school.Nr. Referat des Direktors Apart W zum Frauenforum am 8. 11.1984. On the basis of On improved basis of much evidence, statistical the the education the women of While with respect to vocational men While with thedifferencesbetween respect to and training 707 In 1984, 37% of the women employees of centerbelonged to research the employees of women the In 1984, 37%of 704 705 These numbers show that women’s classes significantly helped the high the helped significantly classes women’s that show numbers These ). 706 According to the overall figures of the factory, in 1976 6% of the Fachschulkader 708 Fachschule and 3,5% were university or college university or and were 3,5% , college university or in while 709 , and according to factory to , andaccording 298 CEU eTD Collection men inand women 1978 found were that there very small differentials between men and of adetailed in wages the of analysis thisrespect: noabusesoverall figures, werereported of wasrealizedequal payfor equal ineachindividualwork With tothe plant. respect male and female workers. The factory conducted several surveysshow to that the principle leading positions”. differences, career opportunities were the most difficult to level.difficultmostto werethe opportunities career differences, and has managers leadingeven cadres declined”. almost totally managers has and production brigadiers female direct The proportion of this respect. in stagnated shortcomings huge are there that say to have we contrary, the On levels. highest the to for thelowest the from women qualified of of promotion rate the all with at be contended cannot past four years“We factory: inthe andmanagers leaders of to women promotion the with respect progress and the proportion of women among graduates of graduates 89 the of out that women] of education the of improvement [the development above the contradicts “It cadres: of influence selection the to continued attitudes misogynist the field where it was the most difficult to implement the policy of equal rights and that 1976 (0,6%)andin 1980(0,9%). statistics proportion the of managers production direct was still very low in women among 714 713 die staatliche Leitung, op. cit. 712 711 710 managers 12% were women. 12%were managers leaders in in1980outof were women, factory and the 2,376 the and 10,6% while among themanagers and in leadingfunctionaries: 1976, 2,041 people had leading positions A separate subchapter discusses the role of women in the party and other mass organizations. mass other and party the in of women role the discusses subchapter separate A ThStA Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera, IV C-4/13/115, Frauenkommission, 1981, op. cit. Frauenarbeit, Einschätzung derDurchsetzung derFrauenpolitik der Partei im VEB Carl Zeiss Jena durch Abrechnung der Frauenarbeit 1980 nach Schwerpunkten, Frauen in Leitungsfunktionen, op. cit. Qualifikationsstruktur, op. cit. The leveling policy was more successful with respect to the differential between Frauensonderklasse 712 But even a report in 1981 complained that there was not much 711 The critical comments of the reports suggest that this was this that suggest reports ofthe comments critical The 710 (from 1970) only12(13,5%)received(from mid-level or The of proportion notwomen much higherwas either 713 It seems that of seems gender all of the that It 714 299 CEU eTD Collection proportion was 5-10%. their wage-groups werewomen, highest whilein the wage-group in lowest employees the (See tablethe the majority the lower belonged wage-groups. 10).84%of to women of was wages high male while higherin theirwas of that workers thewage-groups proportion forviolated. of principle wasnot thehigher equal reasonfor The equal pay work average the but women, of those than higher were workers male of wages monthly average the that less men’swages. of the than were6-9% average women the bemonthly here differential wages of found inthehigh averagethe could wage-groups: ranged men between 113 Marks.Thefrom differential and women workers greatest2 to monthly wages,the of Inrespect average Mark/hour). in 5(0,75 greatest wage-group inwas (0,09 smallestthe in 3)and wage-group lowest the Mark/hour the wage-group The differential table (See 9). samewage-groups. the whobelonged to workers women 717 Werktätiger aufdie einzelnen Lohngruppen imVergleich zu männlichenWerktätigen. weiblicher Verteilung 1979. September 6. Jena, Zeiss Carl VEB Kombinat im Männern werktätiger 716 werktätiger Männern, 12. Oktober1978. 715 the women’s greater responsibility for the household and the family. the and household the for responsibility greater women’s the average men wages couldof beexplainedthrough theirworkers in position and production higher the that concluded therefore wages the of analysis The inferior?”) jobs these Are be likethat? have it to “Does asking comment ahandwritten was there (even though clerks wages and secretaries as such badly paid were that jobs women’s “typical” were there observed that report the Besides, averagewages). towards bonuses counted (shift werewomen,time workers was shift the proportion and workers higherof men among part- majority of overwhelming the workers: women of wages average the of development much between level differences the to inemployment, education andincome sexes the but Ibid. UACZ,3740,Analyse VA Nr. Entlohnung zur und Eingruppierung werktätigerFrauenVergleich im zu UACZ,3740,Analyse VA Nr. Entlohnung zur und Eingruppierung werktätigerFrauenVergleich im zu The above information, however fragmentary, reveals that the system did indeed do 716 There were other factors that negatively influenced the influenced negatively that factors other were There 715 A report of found Areport 1979 717 300 CEU eTD Collection remembered. positively unambiguously was that things few the of one was women towards policy labor partners thought that the socialist system did a lot for workinginterview mothers. the of majority In thisthe respect, that theemphasized also however, be, should it policy, this easy of misogynist thefailures not biases overcome. Whilerecognizing shows were that to The housework. leadersandmanagerslikewise slow promotion progress the of women of slow andmostin process, cases undertake expected women were to bulkthe the of commentsThe duties. ofhousehold and family the the with women of life cited professional the reconcile to how documents clearlyit also show points that out in thethis contradictions respect, emancipation that it could notwas solve,a most notably the problem of 301 CEU eTD Collection and the workers. and the era is party in between political relationship the the workingthe class Honecker lifeof 719 Hürtgen-Thomas ReichelRenate (eds.),in: op.cit., 2001,85-110. DDR-Betrieben’, in Machtverhältnissen und Herrschaftsstrukturen den Zu Arbeitsgesellschaft”: 718 regimes prevented a in regimestransfer prevented 1991. of change the but years, twenty of every intervals archive at Rudolstadt the to transferred more informative. There is some evidence that ideological life in Jena and the factory lifeisideological inJena andthefactory There was that someinformative. evidence more unlikely have materialsof of factory the that organization Zeiss party the the been would is it of district, the documents party surviving the basis of the On regime. Honecker the of fall the until practically maintained was discipline ideological contrary, the regime among the people, which rendered visible the decline of the system. In the GDR, on the of unpopularity theincreasing signsof the detect to possible itwas liberal atmosphere more politically this In conditions. political and economic existing the with discontent articulate their membership to grass-roots the enabled be observedthat could liberalization was never asrigidincreasing asintheGDR,andfromlate 1970s onwards, theparty within ideological discipline In Hungary, be out. pointed has to that case studies explains the limited scope of the chapter in comparison with the Hungarian case study. membersI rarely of but party,the ananswer, peoplegave heard positive answers). This if they were (When asked either. interviews inlife-history littlewas very information archives either. Since party membership of the party was seen as a sensitive issue, there Information from the colleagues of the Rudolstadt archive. Rudolstadt of the colleagues the from Information “durchherrschte ‘Die Reichel, Thomas see: factories the over control party the of study a For In my East German case study In my case study leastwell the of East German chapter documented social the and There is one more important difference between the East German andHungarian the EastGerman difference between important more There isone 718 The papers of the party organization in the factory were supposed to befactory in were supposed organization to the Thepapersof party the 8. TheParty and theWorkers 719 The materials were not found in Thematerials factory were not the 302 CEU eTD Collection majority of those who contrasted were GDRinstitutions The later. rememberedmentioned positively never that those among the communality of the GDR iswas party the with that remarkable members. ofthe It politicalviews true the about informed the individualism of butit alsointernal debate, itwhich blocked off have been could official channels through seriously.intimidating members By party grass-roots itself, theleadership prevented takenevenmore party of was discipline members whereideological also, true grass-roots maintain the silence of population the only with help the of repressive methods; was this however, could, regime The rule. political of practice the and policy economic both to of in approach the terms weremore uniform constitute regime Honecker the decades of marketization and liberalization distinguish 1970sandthe between being latter 1980s(the by characterized gradual of the politicalit is fashion possibleWhile intheHungarian to stark case regime.the of unpopularity the climate), in the casein revealed Europe Eastern control over theSoviet of collapse the but decline, signs of the of the GDR the two the signs of the decline of the regime in the official party documents. disciplinary transfer. disciplinary only through the intervention the aphysicist,and it hisjob almost asatiricalwas that editor, cost of publication carnival of the chairmanlet aloneifaccountexisting of party have into the conditions, we take beenrecorded would of the IKPKK of criticism any that unlikely is still It meetings. in cell opinions their did express or members could in grass-roots farthe andhow meant leniency practice however, this what say, to is difficult it meetings, party factory of books minute of lack the Given meetings. leadership wascriticized in district latter of leniency leastthe the at liberal; a bitmore 17.2.1978. 721 720 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IV D-4/13/85, IKPKK Informationsberichte, Industriekreis-Parteikontrollkommission. The policy intimidation however,not, of successful.was was possible It tohide the 721 This story explains why it is so difficult, if not impossible to detect to impossible if not difficult, isso it why explains story This 720 that he “got off” with a 303 CEU eTD Collection in the IKPO of Zeiss. were 13 base organizations, 56 departmental organizations (APO 56departmental were 13baseorganizations, 1982 the factory party organization was divided into 30 baseinto 135 organizations, divided factory 1982 the was party organization The IKPO negatively by many workers even before the collapse of the regime. of the practice of oppressionmembers of the party). This suggests that its political education – despite, orrather because – was not very withsuccessful careerism and the SED membership wasusually associated party Communists, weresome there that committed in the itwas recognized though Even party. membersof not the were society eyes new,the capitalist of the majority of my interview partners (including some 728 727 726 stärkenund erfolgreich den Kampf um Spitzenleistungen zu führen? 23 September 1982. Kommunisten herauszubilden,denParteieinfluß aufdie Entwicklung vomWissenschaft und Technik zu Jugendbrigaden derProduktionsbetriebe undder produktionsvorbereitendenBereicheden einen in aktiven Kern von besonders und Arbeitskollektiven den in gelungen, Jena Zeiss Carl Veb des IKL es der ist Wie 725 724 723 722 organizations, 28 departmental organizations (APO organizations 28departmental organizations, by written leadership. the every reports least was 1982, employee party,fourth the to according at a member of in party,the Zeissthe factory proportion this inwas 20,2% in 1967, 20,7% 1975 in While Hungarian aroundlatter inRába. 10% the the weremembersof workforce the of Statistik, op. cit. Abteilungsparteiorganisation. Abteilungsparteiorganisation. ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera. Nr. IV E-2/3/49, Protokoll der Sekretariatssitzung, ThStA, Rudolstadt, factory). of the Bezirksparteiarchiv organization party (the der SED Gera. Nr. IV B-4/13/96, Statistik. Industriekreisparteiorganisation Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands (the name of the ruling party of the GDR). The available figures show that the party in factory, party than much the larger Zeiss figuresthe showthat was The available 723 ofZeiss in numbers 728 There wasnot much infigureschange 1980s:in throughout the the 725 In factory 1967, the party organization consisted of base 23 726 ) and 289 party In1970there ) andgroups. 289party 727 ) and 397 party ) and 397party groups 722 was seen rather 724 and in 304 CEU eTD Collection was characteristic of the last years prior to the collapse of the regime, in the GDR it seems in theGDRit regime, of collapse the tothe years prior last the of was characteristic inorganization KISZ.Whilein membership of party decrease the party, Hungary the complained of a problem and of of recruitment decliningthe appeal youth the of the1980sincreasingly throughout reports where as inHungary inmarked GDR, the as young not people party the prestigethe was declineof amongsuggests thatthe of in in 1982 collectives youth factory the brigades there were193youth that andcomment butknow aboutthe innot theparty composition membership generational the 1980s of organization. the belonged member to fourth 1980severy the while throughout were party members in alsorose: fifth1967, every employee wasamember of party the Meanwhile the total workforce increased significantly, too,but the percentage of them who of in of party district. Communists” in leadership the of a speech front 1987 the members. figures were32,152 and 605respectively. departmental organizations (APO) and572party groups 738 1987, op. cit. 737 736 Februar 1987. 735 734 um Tat,13 September 1984. beiBefähigungder und Erziehung der KommunistenMeisterung zur Parteiarbeit derder Aufgabenin ihrer Einheit vom Erfahrungen Wort und Ergebnissen den zu Jena Zeiss Carl VEB des SED der IKL der Standpunkt 733 732 731 1988. 730 729 candidates inandmembers 413candidates, were4,730 1975 there members of in were3,121 there party increasethe period: the 1967 over shows aconstant Protokoll der Sekretariatssitzung, 23 September 1982. September 23 Sekretariatssitzung, der Protokoll ProtokollSekretariatssitzung,der September 23 1982, op. cit.; Sitzung Bezirksleitung,der Februar 11 Statistik, op. cit. ThStA,Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr.A.9970,Sitzung derBezirksleitung, 11 Informationsbericht, Jena, 8 Juli 1988, op. cit. ThStA, Rudolstadt,cit. Bezirksparteiarchiv op. 1982, der SED September Gera. 23 Nr. IV-E/2/3/97, Protokoll derSekretariatssitzung, Sekretariatssitzung, der Protokoll Statistik, op. cit. ThStA,Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. A. 9258,Informationsbericht, cit. Jena, op. 8Juli 1982, September 23 Sekretariatssitzung, der Protokoll In contrast to the Hungarian situation, the party membership totheIn contrast Hungarianfactory situation, party inthe the Zeiss 734 732 The first secretary of the factory party organization spoke of “more than 8,000 , in1984,7,600 733 and in1988aninformation gave afigureof report 8,394 730 731 729 , in , 1982 7,360members and while in 1988 the relevant 737 We do 305 738 736 735 CEU eTD Collection party membership” appeared in official reports was the summer of was 1989 of summer inthe reports official membership”party appeared resign their want to people who are “there that careful however the first time when the fact, that the loss of appeal of the party became manifest only with the change of regime. In 741 organization. the from excluded were they or party the 740 26 Jena,Juli 1989. 739 required courage even time. atthat courage required party paid close attention to these percentages, as in 1977 similar figures were reported: 51 figures were reported: in similar 1977 these percentages, as party close attention to paid the of technical and 32,9% training shows linkedmembership: with education fact 27,8%of the was often only those that with a membership; the among were overrepresented training with technical-school andthose were university6,6% collegelight graduates.In or the of figures,these theintelligentsia and certificate leaving high-school a with school comprehensive finished had members of party were older 60).13,7% than below remaining5,7% (the were 25 and60 and13,2% between 51 and 50,16,3% between 41 and 30,16,7% werebetween 26 years 20,6% old, members (56%)joined the party between 1959 and1967.27,5% werebetween 31 and 40 workers 23,8% and that among of was that of that themembership intelligentsiathe 54,7%, white-collarthe 20,3%, of the students 1,2%were observed inin the GDR the same way as in Hungary.the In 1967, the proportion of workers IKPO of Zeiss.maintain inaction members to wereworking-class quotas of who order proportion the The majority of the percent of members of the intelligentsia, and 8,7% of young people. members,years.of wereparty membership 29.5 In1975,20.7percent workers was38.1 intelligentsia white-collar and18,7%wereother workers.Theaverage ageof the while the membership workers, to 29,1%belonged total were party. of the In 1970, 51,3% year party of weremembers).18 to25 members(19.2% 12%of the workers olds were of Statistik, op. cit. According to some interview partners, those ThStA, Rudolstadt, who Bezirksparteiarchiv announced derSED Gera. Nr. A. 9938/2, Informationsberichte, this Carl Zeiss intention were either agitated to stay in The surviving statistics of the factory party affirmative the that factory show of organization The surviving party the statistics 740 Fachschulkader and graduates were members of the weremembersof andgraduates 741 It seems that the 739 , and this step this , and 306 CEU eTD Collection party party any at rate; even itthough may well have changed 1980s. the throughout the to flattering not was plants “elite” in the lowest its at was employees all of proportion MVG five out of ten members were unaware of party, tothe membersMVG fiveoutof wereunawaretheirten of obligations in said that who secretary, likeparty the Hungarian Just enforced. very been seriously have not could requirements the party, amemberof the was if employee fourth every that organization of electro-technology unit. electro-technology of organization of employees were membershigher proportions of members than others: in the research center,of forinstance, only 13,3% the party and contained thatsome plants noted however,was, It (20,4%). average their thedistrict than better proportion was alsoorganization. The proportion of under-30sinthe the party whichwas 29,4%, was much low in the base the belongedto workers of the 20,7 and wereworkers, themembership percent of összetételér 743 Entwicklung der Mitgliederbewegung, 10Mai 1977. 742 to and basis acase-by-case on considereach application forgot in to party, the workers of proportion increase the to attempts in their organizations base the fact that by the be explained also could any atprice” “candidates of practice and harmful the recruitment, members’ and rights obligations.Theviolation of principlesthe of party the during partially inform candidates for membership of basicthe questions of party policy, and political development. “It was also a widespread practice to not inform, or at best, to only futureon their whichhadanegative effect onthecandidates, amoral exerted pressure them”. tosign only need so thatthecandidates themselves forms enrolment outthe fill helping thecandidates, leadership,instead of instructions ofthe “ theparty: into members were accepted inwhich way mechanical the of 1968 complained 744 There areThere cases when theeconomic functionaries andparty secretaries, contrary to the Jelentés a 10.kongresszus óta felvett párttagok szociális összetételér ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV-D/2/5/300, Nr. Informationüberdie Stress is is mine. Stress There is not much data about recruitment during the period, but itmuchrecruitmentThere isnotcan aboutduring the but period, data be assumed Ę l és okairól, op. cit. 742 The fact that the percentage of members asa of percentage the that Thefact Ę l, valamint apártból kikerültek 744 In this way they 743 a report in 307 CEU eTD Collection men:in 40% 1970,around of employeesthe were women Women in theparty stipulated targets. fulfill join to to werefrequently insimply comrades” party the order pressured centrally- “worker justas in in suggestthat GDR, the Hungary, candidates unreliable” “ideologically had alreadyforms that out by handing join party to the “forcing” candidates of thepractice criticized been filledmanyjoin is workers to party.the remarkable It mentioned that thedocument and in to them. of most refusal the notably, as Hungarians; did the workers the among party organization This and of thesamedifficulties encountered Germanthe officials The East workers. other to example informationMSZMP in Hungary. Both parties sought win to over “respectable” working class to set an that theSED towardsworking-class members shows much similarity with practicethe of the party admitted of collective”. the heis part thinks that he whether really in or party, faiththe has candidate the whether onecancheck discussion even “during before personal interview acceptance no the though with candidates, party”. of our policy of the basic questions “disagreed with who even candidates admitted and party the that fellow workers by their privately respected nor were neither professionally enrolledwho workers were there that arguing membership, the party, or struck off”. The documentrespect the rules. The result was a high also proportion of workers, criticized among those excluded from the selection of candidates for full 746 Bezirksparteikontrollkommission, Gewinnung vonKandidaten, 12 November1968. 745 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera.Nr. IV-B/2/4/290, Gleichberechtigt. Die Entwicklung der Frauen und Mädchen im VEB Carl Zeiss Jena The proportion of women in the factory party organization was lower than that of that than lower was organization party factory in the women of proportion The 745 On the basis of this document, the policy of the of policy the document, this of basis the On 746 and they constituted and only constituted 20% they In many cases there was , op. cit. 4. 308 CEU eTD Collection 752 Parteifunktionen. in Genossinnen von 751 Einsatz den und Entwicklung der bei Ergebnisse op. cit. 750 Mitgliederbewegung, der Entwicklung die über Information party. ofthe members were women the ofto 1977,evena report opticalthe thoughplant a high proportionhad offemale workforce, only 11,3% of 749 FDJ werewomen. secretaries party the factory 17% of leadersorganization, and of party the Zeiss factory the 26,1% of of women was 30%, whilewomen alsoinincreased: in thethe plenums of the partyplenums leadership of the district the proportion of the organizations;33,8%between from 21% to 1975 and seems 1977.It district thethat public role of their average base of of the among leaders in women increase been amarkedpercentage the however, was 38%. In the had, women. There were schools in party teachers of andone-fifth party apparatuses madeonly members. secretariat up13%of Aroundof district one-quarter employees the of andsecretaries they werewomen,high-ranking party Arounddistrict of positions. 20% show that the proportion of female members was still low, particularly among those in female members in the factory were blue-collar workers. blue-collar were factory in the members female and 14%amongmembers. party of membership.the 748 747 among(42%) the members of the high wasalso women of The proportion and 45%). varied27 it between chairpersons union committees the proportionmade up54%of FDJ members, adistrict against average of In 51%. districts’the trade of women varied at between 43% and 55% (among the 26% Freie Deutsche Jugend. Deutsche Freie Ibid. ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derIV-D/2/17/508, Nr. Analysegegenwärtigen der The proportion of women among the party members also varied among the individual plants. According Statistik, op. cit. A Gy 752 749 and union In had which less Zeiss trade the committees, power. factory, women Ę in factory,it Zeissthe was but still lower than districtthe average 40% (36,4%). of Just as in Hungary, women were mainly active in the youth organization- the in organization- the youth mainly active women were Just asinHungary, figures 1977 leaders,women the thatpromoted measures Despite administrative r városi VB jelentése az üzemi pártbizottságok alapszervezeteket irányító tevékenységér 747 -in Rába MVG of proportion the women was in the25% factory 751 748 In 1977, female proportion the party atmembers stood Konfliktkommission 750 (even though among the among though (even Ę l. 309 CEU eTD Collection “With respect to most ideological with deficiencieswith underlines Hungary: similarities further the training that of the party commissions, the candidates don’t have to report on party leadership of the factory 84,9%. was factory the of leadershipparty a meetingsthe of of attendance report of the 1976 the to meetings; according base-cell the for holds time. This atthat in Hungary encountered those to meetings regularparty the intoparty life1969 in plant instrumentsuggestthatthereweresimilar the problems with difficult reconstructgrass-roots partyto life. Documents from an in enquiry conducted Party life women. menand thepolitical of structure careers inequalities continued to gender seems that itwas stated 1977 that majority leadersheldlow-rankingthe positions of women only 15 of them achieved aposition with commensurate their level. education or university obtaineddegree, or acollege leaving certificate, high-school school with a Zeiss factory incommented 1973 that even though 905 womenfinished comprehensive getpromoted toleadingtheir from to Aninformation positions. opportunities report the affected negatively time same the at which work, community with women of association social and holidaysorganized policy (54%) (51,8%). incommittees charge of socialthe of education children social(71,6%), insurance (61,9%), chairpersons itThe highestwas only 22%). proportions of women the were found among Probleme der Parteiarbeit, 24 März 1976. März 24 Parteiarbeit, der Probleme 756 Parteifunktionen, op. cit. 755 Jena, 10August 1973. 754 Parteifunktionen, op. cit. 753 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SEDder Gera. Nr.IV-C/2/5/337, Informationübereinige Analyse dergegenwärtigen Ergebnisse beiEntwicklung und der den Einsatz vonGenossinnenin ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.der Nr. IV-C/2/3/720, Informationsberichte, Carl Zeiss Analyse dergegenwärtigen Ergebnisse beiEntwicklung und der den Einsatz vonGenossinnenin Since none of the minute books of party meetings survived from the period, it is from meetings period, the of survived minute books party Since noneof the 756 An East German report from German from AnEast report 1968 lists 753 This suggests acontinued Thissuggests 754 As in As 755 310 , it , CEU eTD Collection distribution of political literature. There is no further information about the type of the information about nofurther There is literature. political of distribution facilitate the shopsto the contracted also baseorganizations The were served. only 50 increase of municipalities district’s numberthe reluctant Out of booksellers. to the 577 was critically as and commented, government, report with literature, the 250, political reachedfactory every evenly: booksellers could only supply 85 plants, out of a total of worked in(24%) industrial the themselves.mean This plants not did thatpolitical literature districtthe were594shop-assistants,there whodealtwith its distribution, 146of and them in thanin more was seriously In Hungary. GDR alsothe taken literature Marxist-Leninist distribution the showed thatof a 1974report ineducation thedocuments, surviving the inKádár’s time. than at Hungary in GDR, Honecker’s more seriously taken was ideological training showsthat any at rate, higher, 43,5% amonghigher, the 43,5% membershipmore for a visited than party school monthsthree andthe proportion was even invited 40 from the town of Jena). incourse (only Pößneck of invitedthe 20 out 160cameLobeda from and 8out of the “frightening” level: of out invitedthe 207candidates less half than up,92attendedturned a party organizations. from lacked andthe they support candidates from courses, prevented managers attending In some wholacked basic training. places andcandidates, enrolled candidates they According picture didfactories havenot large of Marxist-Leninisteducation the of aconcrete to a report, seriously and in the discipline Furthermore, reportstated responsibility party”. the that low attendancethe execution of the decisions of the party, but he onlyof learns that he doeslocal not need to take their fulfillment of tasks. In this waycourses the candidate is not trained to actively participate in was at a 758 757 Informationüber die Entwicklung der Mitgliederbewegung, 10 Mai 1977,op. cit. cit. op. 1968, November 12 Kandidaten, von Gewinnung Even though there is little informationEven thereislittle methods theforms though of political on and Fachsculkader, 757 In 1977, the Zeiss In1977,the factory 31,2% thatof reported the and the college or university university college or graduates. and the 758 This, 311 CEU eTD Collection paper have all been selected before elections. the selected been paper haveall ballot the on candidates the that complained Gera of town the and Zeiss from comrades” in it was as“ideologicalwasreported thatelections 1977, “youngregarded deviation”: comrade K always had to resolutionsto the so andtasksof group the thecity that internal councilor of affairs, warn him of the leading heobjected “constantly prepared the elections that group working because in the Winzerla role of the Front party. National the of chairperson as position his from When the working designer in the research center of VEB Carl Zeiss and amember of the party, was removed a consequences:was F,showscriticism Comrade that respecthadserious who that inthis was25-30%in turnout 52% in while elections, the increased it to 1974. instance,for mobilize in1971, people: to before elections the were campaigns organized people who objected tothe formality of elections by refusing tovote. For this reason, there from line muchmoredeviation strictly party was inthewere GDR.There the punished only very liberalism was limitedthis as to situationcompared the inbut Hungary, leadership,district in light the of albeitthe fragmentary information about party life,not politischen Bildung firstthe half yearthe of copies of 1974, 2,165 of publicationthe entitled mainly helped the distribution of propaganda materials contracts the that is evidence some there but in way, this was supported that literature were controlled by the SED. by the controlled were Formally, the GDR was amulti-party system, but inpractice the elections and the selectionof the candidates 763 Diskussion derBevölkerung stehen, op.cit. 762 Sekretariatssitzung, Einschätzung der Ergebnisse der Wahlbewegung,30 Mai 1974. 761 und derLiteratur Entwicklung des gesellschaftlichenLiteraturvertriebes inBezirk Gera, 29 marxistisch-leninistischer August 1974. Vertrieb den und Propagierung der bei Ergebnisse Sekretariatssitzung, 760 factories. inthe read widely were publications these that 759 ZurinhaltlichenFragen derpolitisch-ideologischen Arbeit diegegenwärtig besonders im Mittelpunkt der ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IV-C/2/3/152, Protokoll der ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IV-C/2/3/162, Protokoll der On the basis of party literature that some interview partners gave me as a present, it is, however, unlikely Nationale FrontNationale Although the “liberalism” of the Zeiss party organization was criticized by by criticized the was Zeiss the organization Although of “liberalism” party the was the popular front of the political parties and mass organizations in the GDR. (The methodology of political education) were soldin factories. education) were the political methodology (The of 762 The party reports mention another case 759 since the report mentioned that in 763 in the electoral district of in district electoral the 761 Criticism of the Methodik der Methodik 760 312 CEU eTD Collection supervise targeted political work to convince these people to withdraw convince politicalpeople theirto applications to these supervise work targeted them applied in(whichplant conducted timethe instrument the at because25of had5,000employees) for permission to leave the GDR. The purpose of the enquiry was to with the “class enemy” was in work with the with in work was enemy” “class the with Kádár’scompared Hungary. to members inthe GDR, grass-roots few explains weresoopenly discontented there why when hecourage play refused to in his part this “show”; ideological but also this climate maintain F undoubtedly showed considerable party.was usedto the Comrade of rule the whichwantrecognize not repression to didofficials explicitly degreeto the themselves – not because he would candidates haveof the party, it wasemphasized that he was relieved hisof post upon beenhis request – or indeed the criticized F comrade case,publicly in when even this that likewise remarkable was - removed anyway.is It resign membership. their to threatened exclude who those to party the preferred that This shows that longer participate in any discussion andfor him the matter is settled”. nohe “would that F Comrade declared behe disciplined. would that andhe informed was accepted Thiswasnot membership. his thathe carddeclaring resign membership would 31March 1979” from wouldwork achairperson washis position declaredthathe relieved not as of because he werethe topcandidateswhomeeting the nominations selectedof ina public committee, he a circus’. not and elections democratic want here declared that he would notaccept commands and that he would notassist in any show, ‘we would electoral was informed bechanged, he the for group committees proposals the that citizenship). 766 16 April 1979. 765 764 People who officially asked for a permanent permit to leave the GDR (this ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr.involved IV-D/4/13/85, IKPKK, Informationsberichte, the loss of the GDR- is mine. Stress Another field where the members of the party in the Zeiss factory were too lenient too were factory Zeiss inthe party the of members the where field Another 764 . During theinterview with comrade F,he gave backhis Antragsteller When he went as far as to protest against wentWhen farastoprotest as he 766 . In . In 1984 an enquiry was 765 The case confirms 313 CEU eTD Collection Antragsteller. employee who was transferred to his plantinformation four unevenly: daysitworked fortook managerbe the told to that an “because of security reasons”, was actually an undertake extraundertake shifts, toparticipate even in though she wanted “ movementthe the GDR. the inshe failed toargue social that wasinterested time.the duringlife of that Hercolleagues have explained to him application,that he would always be discriminated against in the thisGDR - his colleagues should was not true - while another respect: one respect: in wasneglected this work farpolitical how of examples mentioned There wereconcrete hinder policy”. goods our supply ofconsumer existingthe of believe the problems that comrade E said, our people are too liberal in small communities. A section of the comrades as because them, for sympathy human is almost there many, Among attitude. provocative not easy to contradict the contradict easy to not evaluating their actions as a betrayal of our state and siding with the class enemy […] It is from of instead havethis this person’ not ‘we liberal expected the would that position die Untersuchung der BPKK, op. cit. Antragsteller, better. even argued that there would befewer even there arguedthat because contradictthe to many werereluctant employees andthat inadequate” leavein GDR. enquiry the concluded that political The work respectwas“totally this 1980, 31 in 1981, 37 in 1982and 120 in 1983. In 1980,63% of the 768 Übersiedlungdas in nichtsozialistischen Ausland, 24 April 1984. Wirksamkeitpolitisch-ideologischen der ArbeitbeiZurückdrängung der zur der rechtswidrigenAnträge(G-Betrieb) auf Jena Zeiss Carl VEB des Gerätebau Wissenschaftlichen Betriebes des (Grundorganisation) BPKKder (Bezirksparteikontrollkommission) undIKPKK der Carl Zeiss Jena indenGO 767 According to the given statistics, 35 Zeiss-employees ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.derNr. IV-E/2/4/255, Bericht überdie Untersuchung applied for the permission to leave the GDR in In many places the colleagues refused to enter into political debate with with the political into debate enter to refused colleagues the In many places they supported the view that the state should let them leave if they wished. Others 768 An inenquiry themilling found channels shop thatthe for exchanging Antragsteller, because When asked, the manager and the party not knowsecretary in did which they were good workers: “The colleagues direct the discussions to discussions “Thethe direct workers: colleagues were good they Antragsteller for instance, argued that even were he to withdraw even for that instance,were heto his argued Antragsteller , because the majority of them do not have a have not do them of majority the because , if the Antragsteller supply of were goods supply of consumer Antragsteller were workers. Bericht über Bericht workers. were was asked to asked was Antragsteller, Mach mit 314 767 !” CEU eTD Collection parts for his car. parts was a bettersupply and goods heof himself had towalk hislegs heoff until could buy the be there less that interview would the during comradeone declared suggests tothe attitude report the the that shop but mill of group the party the with There was“offensive” discussion hean brigade worked. Beisein des APO-Sekretärs GenossenH am 04.04.1984. 769 meetings thelists leaders the presented of annual andtheirevaluation premiums of topics discussion of beforehand, andnobody didanything on their initiative. own In the membersknow did the not grass-roots wereirregular, meetings information, base-cell andparty manager the group is of thesame workshop the person”.According this to of organizer the the main isthat reason view. The have adifferent onthemachines work “thegroup: twodirectproduction managers have acommon opinion and the comrades who camps belonged, weretwo party withinworkshop wasthat there the mainproblem the memberleadership of the of basethe which organization to party the of group the building in workshop 1971, which wasexamined bytheIKPKK. one According to in bemodel A similardocumented conflictthe can leaders will anyway. their enforced members workers’ thoughtthat much didnotmatter opinions in party meetings and that many books basisminute of instrument inthe 1969enquiry the plant, of the grass-roots itself manifested as onebetween andleaders party members.the Onthe grass-roots the only in avery manner. Conflictrestrained frequently between managersthe andworkers supply andof consumer goods their human sympathy for stigmatized the “class if enemy”, German workers who were members of the party membership. grass-roots many Hungarian in tothe economicsimilarterms East policy also expressed their criticized have would they discontent allowed, been had if they and party, the outside withwere who the Ibid, Niederschrift Ibid, überdie Aussprache mitGenossen J, Parteigruppenorganisator derFräserei in im The political attitudes manyof members grass-roots diddiffer not much from those 769 Antragsteller was rather liberal, because liberal, was rather Antragsteller if there 315 CEU eTD Collection socialist state. itisretaliation, have they unlikely would that openlydiscussedtheirwith discontent the likely of light in the but meetings, base-cell in the least at criticism formulated also people that can however, be it assumed, meetings; party of theatmosphere to reconstruct criticize the policy of the party openly. On the basis of the documents it would be difficult notto if more careful even intheGDRwere like inpeople effective inthe1980s Hungary the supply GDRif want toleave the who be wouldlesspeople there that voicedof criticism frequently goods wereaccount the into masses. Taking the let educate alone Communists, politically committed better, itformalized, just asseems in Hungary, and that it is at best doubtful how far the party couldthat train the propaganda of the party was less direct production manager,direct he wouldbe afraid tocriticize himin future. the improvement hemadethat managerbut tothe since his plant of wagedependedon the the also had a workers oftenconflict contradicted the direct production managers, their opinions did not count. He interview with with a young one worker confirmedof thisthe view. He directcommented that even thoughproduction the managers over a proposal of these tasks are communicated andthemethods used toimplement theparty line “ answer, butheaddedthat –notsurprisingly party apositive – gave line thespeaker the organization represented concretesocialist question labor competition, whichof couldwhether be discussed, but couldthe not be taskschanged. On the given by the party leadership of the base – Parteigruppe Modelltischlerei, 27 September1971. 771 770 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera. Nr. IV-B/4/13/83, Untersuchung in der is mine. Stress APO/ZGss Even these fragmentary sources show that grass-roots party life was often highly the colleagues and the comrades do not agree withthe colleaguesand the comrades donotagree the wayas 771 ” 770 . An . 316 CEU eTD Collection Concerning the Czechoslovakian events he measures.” did accept not events our therefore Concerning Czechoslovakian the media. Western the to helistened andtherefore people truthfully informed media hasnot ‘our that instance, for statements, unclear ideologically makes he and party the about ideas join “he fake claimedin to wasforced the party that who army.engineer Hehastotally the anelectrical of that casewas Another off”. struck heeventually was Czechoslovakia in events the concerning statements unclear made he after Only resignation. his withdraw worker–heinnovatorsbest inis very to –hewaspersuaded of one hisworkshop the good a is he Since Marxism. with faith religious his reconcile not he could because membership resign his party.have withto Hewanted notour closecontacts does membership, his in comradeZ, “despite 20-year-long Carl Zeiss Jena, Hungary. worker One VEB in like just party the to commitment ideological lacked grassroots-members many members, workers,for yet, whereotherhand,the the on individuals weregood concerned 32 managers. taken against139 members who opposed officialthe line;district-wide figureincluded this was action when disciplinary inCzechoslovakia, intervention Soviet the over conflict was exception One a minimum. to members the of loss its sought party the that suggests of however,procedures disciplinary whowerestruckoff. discussion, The party, or Losing members 1968. AuseinandersetzungenGenossen mit im Zusammenhang den mit Ereignissender in CSSR,12 November Bezirksparteikontrollkommission, Einschätzung überdie Bezirk im aufgetretene Erscheinungenund 773 of 1961. of defence” wall “anti-fascist of the building the and of 1956 “events” Hungarian the concerning comments 772 “deviations from the official line” that emerged in relation to events in Czechoslovakia. events to in relation emerged that line” official the from “deviations and the its membership, of education onthe political areport organization compiled ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera.Nr. IV-B/2/4/290, critical made already who had 139 these among comrades few very were there report the to According There are no overall figures for the Zeiss factory for the numbers excluded from numbersthe from factory Zeissfor excluded There arenofiguresforthe the overall 1968 wasclearly year important for the an politically Zeiss factory party 772 The report introduced two cases that show that the party “fight” indeed party did cases the that show that introduced two Thereport 773 317 CEU eTD Collection had already had critical concerningtheExquisit-shops. made already comments freedom hesubordinateand not could toparty himself Thiscandidate-memberdiscipline. he be,hadlike would however,expelledkeephis becausehedeclaredthat to to personal study into andfactory promoted engineering worked was tool the candidate-member who One mistake. their of however,persuaded were, eventually workers help”. These “friendly Union’s Soviet the with agreement their indicating form a sign to refused they therefore been released from prison, told them that “atlast we have socialism and real freedom”, and just had husband, who the where intervention, the before family aCzech visited comrade another and a brigadier case another In organization. base her informed bus the riding thatwere herbus comrades in and aworkers’ Union Soviet the to gave socialist countries the that support military against protested the worker a 55-year-old woman that reported “everyday”methods of and repression the degreeof control itpolitical over society: was the light on some casesheds following The commands. conference only obeyed Moscow the at comrades Czechoslovak the that he said and country, the of occupation Hitler’s to in Czechoslovakia intervention Soviet he the compared because from party the expelled didgiveThe itintroducedreport butindividual not statistics, A foundry was cases. worker Oktober1968. Zusammenhang mit der Entwicklung derCSSRin und der sozialistischen im WaffenhilfeJena 1968. am21.8. 8. Zeiss Carl VEB des IKPO der Grundorganisationen den in Maßnahmen parteierzieherischen 774 the press in the GDR, and that those liedfrom was limitedspeech they thatthere andof this, utterly; and, concluded freedom of who made “hostile” statements or not objective, German mediawaseither East the that Germany; argued they West and in public or tried to people madeformal Czechoslovak events, of comparisons prices and wagesbetween East manifestations” concerning the an Accordinganalysis of “hostile the to criticism, too. ThStA, Rudolstadt, ThStA, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. IV-B/2/4/297, Nr. Einschätzung zur The Soviet intervention in Czechoslovakia opened conditions in the GDR to 774 318 CEU eTD Collection refused to break his contacts to Western people who had the same hobby. who hadthesame Western people to break hiscontacts to refused he asparty relieved of becausehewasaphilatelistmemberhis post secretary, and was Another man. likeable a was concerned comrade the that commented regretfully report in The same languagewall beremoved”. wearethe nation. same The and Berlin should speak the they livingthere, also thereare Germans because necessary arenot “borders the memberinstance,political One because foreducation. excluded he party was, argued that likewise1973 and relationshipWest1976 center showsthat the wasatthe Germany of to of democracy within party.the party, whowereexcludedin freedom thepress limited the 1968,criticized of and lack the even members that butthese cases werecriminally of show state the the order punishable; orradio. television western to listened or watched usually the others “heckle” Mitgliedern und Kandidaten der Partei (1973-1976). 778 777 776 1968. Dezember 5 Probleme, ideologische politisch- ergebenden daraus sich die insbesondere Strafrecht sozialistischen zur Gesetzeswerke neuen Bericht zum Stand derDurchsetzung Wirksamkeit und der Rechtsprechung imBezirk auf Grundlageder der 775 because hewasanoldbecause comrade”. comments these formerly tolerated organization His follower’. like a ‘little felt he always that he said and position democratic social the he defended Germany, West in conditions oldjoined comrade who the party in because excludedhe 1930 was “praisedabove allthe An camps. concentration fascist GDRtothe the of authorities penal the and compared she in because husbanda candidate with herhad beenpublic for sentenced whowas a a“hostilediscussion” memberA party continued reconsidered. worker woman study becausebe in Union hisrequestto Soviet that the could commented this refusal of ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.der Nr. IV-C/2/4/303, Feindliche Handlungenvon Attempt to leave the GDR illegally. carrier-pigeons. ofrearing hobby the had he story; asimilar told partner interview One ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv SED Gera.der IV-B/2/3/72, Nr. ProtokollSekretariatssitzung,der An analysis of the “hostile manifestations” among district party membersbetween party district among “hostile manifestations” An of the analysis 778 Republikflucht 776 775 The report The Attacks on 319 777 , CEU eTD Collection production manager declared that he was not happy to represent party nothappyhe managerparty production representandpolicy, aworker was thatto declared two people letters:In in resignation adirect submitted 1980 the Göschwitz plant, member“opportunist” notgiven resign, was to opportunity the butwassimplyexpelled. The parties”. Western the it like be andshould open more democratic economy that and During the interview it “in that out turned his party viewthe from should beseparated the the masses. party disappointed the membership that arguing resigned his opportunist” member of the IKPO of the Zeiss factory, who was, allegedly, the first to be “openly functions until 1960”. Despite his merits, the skilled worker was expelled from party.the held 1945,andhehadbecause party leadingparty hehadbeen since a memberof the referred toexisting holes in supply the of He hadgoods. authority in his party group, madeworker in thesecomments a party meeting comrades and“some becausenodded he Even Marxand in policy”. iftheyhadseen turn Engelstheirskilled would our graves The are silenced. truth tell the who andthose situation, economic the about informed correctly not are People shops. Delikat and Exquisit Intershop, the at look classes, the between are differences there in GDR the and from people the detached been have functionaries but the practice of the partythe case of a skilled worker who commented thatand “the theory of Marxism-Leninism theis good government is leadershipparty liberal was too and demandednoexplanation.mentioned also The report not in line with the theory. againstparty the meetings, in policy out but spoke concerned people revealed thatthe party The high investigation period intheparty. The only a short inplantafter the micro membership open criticism in the GDR, than in Hungary. In 1977, six people wanted to resign their März 1979 . 780 Bezirksparteikontrollkommission, 4Januar 1978. 779 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera. Nr. IV-D/4/13/85, IKPKK, Informationsberichte, 8 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SEDGera. Nr. IV-D/2/4/242, Criticism of the party was frequently linked to resignations from resignations frequentlyCriticism linkedwas to One party the from party.the of A report from the Zeiss factory likewise shows that the party tolerated much less party the tolerated that likewise shows from factory A Zeiss the report 320 780 779 CEU eTD Collection party inparty group following:the There wasnostrong political leadershipin the group, influence of social democracy […] We see The publicthe views of prosecutor. andmembers attitude the display the of group the the main reasons of this liberal attitude received facts, the andthey comradelet they Sinfluence doubted themnegatively against of the disciplinary action against comrade S. As they did notunderstand the information that they take to refused they Therefore organs. state and party inour lackconfidence andthey because theydidn’tunderstand ofcriticism role the and inourdevelopment, self-criticism party discipline andthe political members. education of Theparty took group approach this bourgeoisagainst the ideology manifestations in and its country, ‘humanity’our precedes fight a to comes it when view, in their that means This only. problem the of side ‘human’ the see to wanted they and son his with he has that troubles the of because him for sorry ideological S with his of field.Instead mistake, feltconfronting comrade hisparty group didComrade is there that in Sandhis recognize group not party noco-existence the him interrupted because helet could not anybody theparty distort line in this way. prosecutor public The Congress…’ Party Ninth the at in detail Western TV watching explain this position ‘Comradewith words: the Honecker explained to hisattitude to watch “as TVprograms, fatherhestarted and hadWestern comrade hisson allowed to S the lives of the individuals toa higher degree than in Hungary. In court it was revealed that trial because of truculence. This suggests that the organization was also expected to control morepunished severely. party member One wasdisciplinedhis because son wasbrought to than in Hungary, and that criticism of the party support party line.the among the grass-roots in factory tool he that was announced the ashamed tobea memberparty couldnot and membership was 781 Ibid., 19 November1980. This shows that the party took political criticism much more seriously in the GDR the in seriously more much criticism political took party the that shows This 781 321 CEU eTD Collection strict; for example, a colleague who lives forhavestrict; example,acolleague in who neither his AWUcannot radio, the own is too discipline the where AWU the to come dormitories in lived who workers skilled young that see trainees “Many advertisements: their with trainees the deceived consciously factory because thatthe they thought weredisappointed, territories northern the from came who those mainly them, of many that concluded which trainees, of conditions as a candidate-member. be re-admitted should trainee the decided that was therefore It in thecollective”. his trust lost he because reasons for his behavior were taken into consideration. He tried to solve his problems alone facts and not the “his becausewrong inquiry from the stated was only exclusion party the member in dormitory,the finally led which give him noticeto inhis but workplace asthe candidate- for the situation adifficult created This differently. betreated should trainees that demanded and teachers, the and trainees the between therelationship criticized FDJsecretary dormitory the where the in wasameeting there followingthe antecedents: Thecase found had thatthe inquiry was noticeterminated. inthefactory and hiscandidacy hein gave had he hisdormitory, problems After andFDJ secretary acandidate-member. was an who a trainee caseof the concerning aninquiry conducted IKPKK the instance, for case, from one In party. the due process members could expect that demonstrate strong reprimand. its mistake: organizer the “recognized” of groupreceivedthe areprimand and Sa comrade group”.life mixedwas with companionship, and thereforepolitical education inwas neglected the After Community conditions. the political-ideological evaluate correctly not they could therefore the discussion with the members of the IKPKK, the party group September1969. 783 1973. 782 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IV-B/4/13/80, Bericht der IKPKK, 19 ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. Nr. IV-B/4/13/83, Bericht derIKPKK,Oktober 1 The role of the IKPKK was, however, not only to punish people, but also to 782 783 There investigation wasalsoan of living the 322 CEU eTD Collection 787 Januar 1972. Bezirksparteiarchiv Rudolstadt, der SED ThStA, Gera. Nr. here?” IV-C/2/1/5, doing employees of the Protokoll 20-30% der other Sitzung the are der what “now Bezirksleitung replied he which derto SED Gera, 4 work ofhis quality bad the for rebuked was who trainee of a attitude” political “negative the of spoke teacher 786 Lehrlingeder im Bereich des FB, 25Januar 1970. 785 flats can he hang a picture on the wall of his room 784 however, took the side of the physicist: he “got off” with a strong reprimand and was reprimand and astrong he“got off”with sidethe physicist: the of however,took should be expelled was aphysicist, from J,who comrade of publication, the main editor the that recommended the party and dismissed immediately center leader research the of The for toilet-paper”. too thick reading, from his job. as TheS in enterprise; our employment of precondition the IKPKK chairperson, S=stupidity, leadership; of meetings of the mainthe content the misses; C =chattering, Zeiss still institution that last the “B =brothel, learn that could one Zeiss-Alphabet the from while idlers” as them describes practically and Jena Zeiss Carl VEB the of personnel work of the academic-technical in the distorts “highly “Conversation which pub”, the title the bearing one like articles “provocative” included publication The work”. socialist of “collective of title the received the that research of center the byadepartment published asatirical was “case”members. newspaper after wascreated In 1978apolitical carnival party very careers of couldeasily political end the party offences against discipline training perspectives andfuture ofyoung skilled workers. the concerning more general problems on lightshed caseof FDJsecretary the the that right in long run,the it and perhaps bebetter tobuild would more apartments”. are in AWU the regulations the whether examine should we Therefore own. their can call they that room small a least at or home, own their have to want they and prison in are they The title of the newspaper of the factory. of the newspaper ofthe title The It seems impertinencethat was also frequently counted among the “hostile” manifestations becauseone ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera. Nr. IV-B/4/13/80, Bericht der IKPKK, Argumente See complaintsthe of young skilled workers concerning this type of accommodation in . The IKPKK could mitigate punishment but on the other hand, it also reveals that reveals also it hand, other the on but punishment mitigate could IKPKK The 784 , that is to say that young is say , that that feellike people to 786 Scheinwerfer 787 = too thin for thin =too From hostels to From hostels 785 It seems It 323 CEU eTD Collection adequate information on the political mood of the grass-roots membership. grass-roots of mood the political information the adequate on suppressing criticism with repression. This, however, alsomeant that the party itself had no inin GDRtheparty succeeded indiscontent of the reports, population the information the itmounting was possible in tothe totrace the Hungarian case where Thus, sharp contrast The endofsilence was at grass-roots expressed the discontent forums. in public that expect to naive been have would it why reveals also it and “enemies” created system in carnivalpublication.the involvement the caseof who were graduates, one of them was a group leader, were also transferred because of their intervenedchairperson who onbehalf from physicistthe himof andapart colleagues two it that itswas theIKPKK reportstressed activity inincreased ideology”. The fieldof the enemy class the a time when at watchfulness political heviolated because party the modeltransferred to building where“he should himself prove of worthy confidencethe of Richard Sorge“ aus dem Betrieb Entwicklung wissenschaftlich-technischer Ausrüstungen, 5.1.1989. 790 789 788 present films like films in future.” present the these have becomealcoholism and predominantanti-Semitism and law the violated has state the that seems it contrary, in society. Therefore depict “on Soviet audience, inapositivethe according the light; did the not Union to we ask the responsible that, five filmswerepresented day cinemathe on that comrades of responsible Soviet comrades not to of 1989 the factory party organization itsproved political by watchfulness informing the from reports on 1989 aresilentdiscontent evident of the populationthe in beginning – the UACZ, VA Nr. 4447, Information über die Bearbeitung der Eingabe der Gewerkschaftsgruppe „Dr. Gewerkschaftsgruppe der Eingabe der Bearbeitung die über Information 4447, Nr. VA UACZ, Ibase this statement on the party cit. reportsop. of the factory17.2.1978, and the district, I have Informationsberichte, not studied IKPKK Stasi files. The rigid ideological discipline of the party was maintained until the very end. very the until maintained was party the of discipline ideological rigid The 790 Political vigilance worked efficiently until the last the until efficiently worked vigilance Political 788 The gives one example of how the 789 Even party 324 CEU eTD Collection wanted to resign. to wanted added –for contradicted this first timemembers the party evaluation. The report -that were toooptimistically by evaluated thedailyselection and leadership, the shops the of system”. Further, many partyand violent groups conflictsrepresented in summer“events 1989.InJuly,the such the as electionsthe inPoland andHungary and the strikes Sovietopinion Union that arethe evaluatedresults of as thethe GDRweakening of the socialistof nations in Europe for 45 years. We, the citizens of the GDR can only be proud of it”. co-existence nopeace andpeaceful have been GDRtherewould the without recognize that Everybody needs to protest againstsuchattempts. to are whole-heartedly determined number of those who want to leave the GDR, experienced “In increase inthelastdays inthe of spite “massflight” the and the massive we cannot let our country be defamed. We Salvador Allende held out - at least according to the extend?” German citizens East of testimony opportunism the does of the diary of the brigade: “The day before yesterday Poland, today Czechoslovakia, tomorrow Hungary? How far of wasfoundof that plants: one in the staircase to Minister Meier leafletthe handwritten of Zeiss a 1989the chief managerof in reported months regime: of the October 26 Juli 1989. 793 792 791 describe, so for instance, the increases in prices (technical articles), long instance, sofor describe, for (technical times increasesinprices waiting the articles), they that problems the to solutions right the them show to or employees the satisfy to of the regime. The October report also admitted that “there are often notenough arguments a indicate they weakening but, did from party the “mass flight” Hungarian the compared to announced theirintention leave in lowto November. figuresstill party the very These are resigned theirmembershipin and18in September, AfurtherOctober. 321people ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera.A 9938/2, Informationsberichte, Carl Zeiss Jena, UACZ, GB Nr. 1209, Brigadebuch, op. cit. 7 Oktober, 40. Jahrestag der Gründung UACZ, unsererVA Nr. 4722, Fallmeldung, DDR. 4.10.1989. Some signs of crisis could, however, be detected in the information reports in in reports information be the however, detected could,Some of signs crisis 793 According to an autumn report, 20 members of the IKPO of Zeiss 791 The brigade namedafter Thebrigade 792 325 CEU eTD Collection repairs and services, missing spare-parts for cars, long waiting times in health inhealth for care”. times cars,long waiting missing spare-parts repairs andservices, 02.11.1989. 797 796 795 794 regime. that we have done for this country in the past forty years, without any consequences.” But wecannotallow irresponsible elements to question everything that hashappened here, better. makesocialism to ready andwhoare power state socialist GDR, the of constitution should tryforcountry, socialism and republic. the for And personally, Iwould like toadd we that to win overbelieve for and this whichmany after Icannot they things, would demonstrate that other the positiveCommunist and thewall!” state, insults concerningsecurity pig to our and theusual organs forces was leftfrom who 15,000demonstrators, the were slogansdrunk and like shouted “every who, as districtthe leadership party on2 1989:“As itfinallyNovember inI see Jena, a “hardcore” comrade unknown; he allegedly Munich.escaped to Krenz said, were manager of the letter whereabouts the the Accordingto fraud. was chargedwith accept manager,who chief feared of the for arrest issued the had been thatawarrant employees the involved collectives”. involved the with in discussions letter the “clarify to initiative the took immediately leadership party factory the report, the According to demonstrate”. strike to and to right the and elections, free economy,market asocialist democracy, “bourgeois alsodemanded economy. It for the dissolution called leading of SED, role the attacked the that factory in Zeiss ofthe departments various party cells in the factory, informed letter” hungthat 1989of report of on ofa“public23 October notice-board the and the separation of the party from the ThStA,Rudolstadt,Bezirksparteiarchiv derSED Gera. A Nr. 9981, Sitzung derBezirksleitung Gera von UACZ, VANr. 4743, 13.2.1990. ThStA, Rudolstadt, Bezirksparteiarchiv der SED Gera. A 9807, Informationsberichte, ThStA, Rudolstadt, 23 Oktober Bezirksparteiarchiv 1989. der SED Gera. A 9635, Informationsberichte, 19 Oktober 1989. The “transition” was so quick that few months later an official letter informed later letter an official few months soquick that was The “transition” 795 Itseemedsuch that an survived approach until days lastthe of the 796 It is worth recalling his last speech in front of 797 794 326 A CEU eTD Collection not accept the party as a conversation partner. party as aconversation acceptthe not themselves did workers becausethe class working the longer address no regimethe could in from system wasthat alienation 1989 the of workers’ longthe of the process The result blocked. this process butitis effectively was under liberalization certain of Honecker that have aprocess had triggered it -could reform German economic – continued far the East popular evenamong in those whose name It itexercised power. remains aquestion how of was not a that revealed regime that population of the by mass flight broken the essentially social and politicalamong discontent in the population 1980s,the silence in GDRwas the policy workingthe towards While sourcesrendered class. Hungarian mounting visible the over means the of production,even butthey could not express their of opinions party from notcontrol they effectively excluded only for workers, were the andsocial security provide to andmaterial indeeddid attempt party. workers the party the the Even though The speech of the chief manager well illustrated the lack of any dialogue between 327 CEU eTD Collection crisis of the welfare dictatorships incase of the GDR the point ofwhile reference sector, is primarily private expanding West the Germany. and socialism (See the on market listed bibliographyplaced is emphasis in regime Kádár ofthe case in the “core” of the party’s policy towards the working class in both countries, while the party would “catch up” with the consumption levels of the Western capitalist countries. This was Both leaderships increase they general instead. countries’ of argued that social welfare category party, foron the was becameeven anincreasingly the andemphasis abstract put oriented policy ingoods mounting shops,which the Thistriggered social new,consumption-discontent. was reflectedcommodities. Inin the thelast productionyears of ideologyconsumer goods rose, ofso that peoplethe could spend theirNES money on people ofhad fall, the GDR,following andUlbricht’s the increased inboth countries, in wages were moneythe butparty there were notwhere Workers’ appease to workers. in order increasesin consumption promoted GDR, which, enough thein the policy” social and economic the “working of “unity the with matched easily be can Hungary class” policy workingthe towards classinthetwocountries. The standard-of-living policy in action in the on 1989-1990 other. underindependent socialismworking-class thelack late the onehand,protests of and on working-class of absence the notably, most class; working the and regime the between has been previously has been assumed. previously than regimes two the between similarities more been have well may there shows, studies case two the of analysis detailed as the - reforms economic of their trajectories did the 798 Interestingly, theindividual case studies in both countries usually stress the On the basis of the two case studies, there were many similarities in many party’s the similarities were there casestudies, basis two On the of the Although the political climate in the two countries differed substantially – and so ). 798 This can explain similar patterns in the relationship the in patterns similar explain can This Conclusion specificity of the two regimes; 328 The CEU eTD Collection wave of complaint that new, wealthy strata had emerged, whose members lived much lived had members emerged,whose strata new, wealthy that wavecomplaint of morebecame important. money in -suggestthat too, more dogmatic GDR, ideologically “normal” workers the had relatives who those mentioned: were that “classes” three the and inequalities, new of appearance in West Germany; in workingthe criticism the Even countries. inboth the scattered the GDRaddressed class those who had special intervene in production decisions. connections to management, attempted whenbrigades brigadiers and the the between clear conflict in the GDR; and,with workers in both countries, interviewsfrom factory isevident greater life-history the than create democracy. This to and in the rather relations, power existing conserve thereby and means production of Hungarian the over control case, it is for thelack tocompensate workers partiesworking-class of attempted – the education possible to document celebration holidays, of state a festivals common mainly in – the GDR) for and the support common orthe work social movement, brigade socialist the e.g. (see, workplace they supported progressive social initiatives – such as community-building in the Although workingclass. the to making concessions to political opposed was consequently 800 799 Diskussion derBevölkerung stehen, op.cit. 801 belonged to the working who certainty with beit determined could whether asked members even party that class. contributed lossto the meaningof of identity;working-class such itoccurred to an extent too, this, class, working the of members nominally remained officials leading many Since leastmembershipthis –orat washowordinary membersparty perceived thisrelationship. grass-roots the leadership and party between the markedgap social existed a there See the chapter entitled chapter Seethe brigades. socialist on chapter Hungarian Seethe ZurinhaltlichenFragen derpolitisch-ideologischen Arbeit diegegenwärtig besonders im Mittelpunkt der The orientation towards consumerism led to a decrease in the social importance of adecreasein consumerism led to social importance the towards The orientation New inequalities?. 800 The critical comments of party members likewise show that show likewise members party of comments critical The 801 799 In Hungary, the reform period was characterized by a by wascharacterized period reform the In Hungary, 329 CEU eTD Collection visible the gap between Eastern and Western standards of living that was increasing, rather was increasing, that living of Western standards and Eastern between gap visible the but the practice of watching West German television programs ( German but West practice of programs the television watching later than Hungarian – did the populationpeople – atleast felt economicthe the troubles own household. In the GDR foreign loans enabled Honecker tocontinue his welfare policy their establish to had they because involvement political for time less had people young collectives. socialist which reinforced the individualization of society and people’s withdrawal from the increaseopportunity maintainfor –or people to –their living work, standardof with extra includingpopulation, the workingin class, sector. expandingthe This private was an income the of to source asecondary offering thus reforms further pro-market implemented government the difficulties, economic growing the to response continue.In its to when situation economic the of countrynolongerthe allowed thestandard-of-living policy 1970s from late the in Hungary visible however, were, “welfare dictatorship” crisisthe of formation independent an working-class movement regime.of against the signs The of the group. social existing an as class working in the interest lost increasingly party the leadership, ranked While of meetingsconsumer ofthe theprovision highonagenda goods party of increasingly used as an abstract category that served only to legitimize the rule of the party. was class working the GDR dogmatic more in the even and documents; in party rarer status the of beingin their working class eyes. References the working becameto class industry recovery. inevitably This downgraded workingthe for pay price the classinstate governmentthe was solve attempting theeconomic to problems by making country of the better than members Inthe 1980s manyHungarian workers. the believedgrass-roots that 802 For asimilar argument see Erzsébet Szalai, op. cit., 2004; Mark Pittaway, op. cit., 2005. Consumption-oriented politics were successful in the sense that they prevented the prevented they that sense the in successful were politics Consumption-oriented 802 As the cited party reports show, even officials understood that understood officials even show, reports party cited the As Westfernsehen ) rendered 330 CEU eTD Collection disappeared from the party documents in the GDR, while in Hungary in when the1980s, in Hungary while intheGDR, documents party the from disappeared practically workers Real class. working the party and betweenthe communication in blockedre-hardening the channelsof politicalthe 1970seffectively line the of The workers. with the agreement its tacit of terms the renegotiate to itunnecessary render both countries. Both regimes thought that the satisfaction with people. the social settlement torenewits be able would it of that consumers’believed they and party, workers’ be a to party the held class working the of demands would consider their Judgedby demands. high number of the at leastcomments, timethat part at a initmarkedwillingness demonstrated working-classopinions and to interesteven signs of a more far-reachingGDR, workers criticismmainly complainedpractices.management Inthe criticize among democracy and existing enterprise to workers of the system.of the contradictions In problem of increasing materialism and individualism in society – there attempts were also both cases, of thethe NES,partyin history the relationship.this of from In Hungarian the case –apart the addressing but showedthere were a alsophase important cases markedan in both era Thereform patterns. similar certain displays the kind of future kindthe in of system,the that generation theirhad. parents’ visible prior to politicalthe collapse younghisof regime: people inthe1980s didnot see superiority of capitalism. of economic the perceptions reinforced in speciallikewise shops Western currency, or In this sense, levels Western of consumption, and the capitalist products couldthe that be boughtfor failure of Honecker’s inestates, statewould the that “catch-up” 1980stherewas muchlesshope the with welfare policy than falling. Whilein the 1970s people were happy acquireto flat newlybecame a built on housing PeterHübner-Klaus Tenfelde (eds.), op. cit., 1999, 709-740. youngerand generations of female textile workers. See id., ‘Mächtige Mütter undunwillige Töchter’, in: 803 Information from the interviews. Annette Schüler found a similar difference between the attitudes of older of attitudes the between difference similar a found Schüler Annette interviews. the from Information The dialogue between the party in however,The failurein between dialogue classended, party andthe working also relationshipthe party The developmentof between the workers and the 803 331 CEU eTD Collection change of regime than did the Hungarians; in Jena mass demonstrations were organized to organized were mass demonstrations inJena Hungarians; didthe than change of regime the moreafter solidarity demonstrated also German workers German interviews. East East interviews, life decline the community new society in of the inwas emphasized more the Hungarian and German my East both in regret with mentioned was neighborhood the and inthe workplace, collectives socialist of disintegration the Eventhough lifedeclined. in community interest people’s society of individualization increasing the with GDR; in the expelled from party the for criticizing its policies. placeliberalization membersintook GDR,the even thewithin party, risked party being in lay substantial political whilein change undoubtedly gradual the climate: Hungary most visible.countries more twoThe between the differences 1980s,thusrendering the companies inthe1970s became clearin – existing private nationalized contrary, Honecker the on carried out, not were such reforms GDRwhere the to – ascompared life political believe criticism. learnt party’s the to they that society livedin had they after capitalist of the people whom itsought to win over in eyes the credit lost ideology party effectively of the workerist The action. working-class independent for reason no was there be theirs, to feel not did they that regimes the socialist alternatives was suppressedin both countries, and socialism wasidentified with of discussion reform. Since through have carried party the could believethat workers the interestlittle in re-starting social dialogue; and astheevents of 1989 showed, neither did showed parties ruling inHungary, alternatives thanleftist rather in pro-market interested socialistas a society in upsetconsolidated, social GDRand, category. to Fearing the less was seriously even liberal,taken class working became more the political the climate ideology of the party. (‘Paintingsocialism’, op. cit., 1992, 111-142). much conscious of the contradiction betweenthe gradually capitalizing country and the official socialist 804 On the basis of his fieldwork experience in Hungary Burawoy already showed that the workers were very Even though the Hungarian market reform inimpactits marketstarted Even social on and Hungarian 1968, though reform the Market socialism in Hungary had yet another social consequence that was notseen that yet social consequence another socialism had in Hungary Market 804 : as one interview partner stated, itwas only stated, partner interview : asone 332 CEU eTD Collection Pittaway, op. cit., Mark 2005.)in: argument the (see successful wasmore class working of the privatization the Hungary in that argued 1997).Press, Although Kádár boththe Honecker and regimes sought to de-politicize labordemands, can it be the equation of the GDR with the Nazi regime. them including those who said that they were opponents of the socialist system, objected to all beof adictatorship, GDRto heldHonecker’s Although they cut benefits. welfare that had touchwith lost ordinary lives, reality the acommentof peoples’ on planned reforms in parliament sat who politicians the that argued typically partners Interview economics. by thought that there was only formal democracy in Germany, and that politics was decided their country. The new political system received a rather negative evaluation: most workers affected that issues in the more say have would people ordinary and justice, more social be street for adifferent society in 1989. They believed that in the united Germany there would to the went they fifty)argued that forty and between who in (people groups particular youngerit was of members age- the the regime: new, with the capitalist disappointment (Padraick Kenney, (Padraick strikes of absence the that argued he while solidarity of workers’ tradition the through Lodz in strikes postwar in Wroclaw,807 where806 Polish(Jena, 1995). workers were newcomers, can be related to the lack of this tradition that they were happy that the happy that were they that said interview of partners the Most Honecker’s return GDR. to to wanted 1989 –no-one mothers than working and gaveto the moreafter state support the better, were institutions interview system left negative only memories behind in East Germany – in fact, most of the partnersin workers’ memoriessaid of thethat two regimes. life of GDR. community the the Although school it cannot besystem, said that the socialist health care system and child care prevent massive lay-offs prevent 805 Gy In his comparative study of the workers of Lodz and Wroclaw in the 1940s, Padraick Kenney explained Kenney Padraick 1940s, the in Wroclaw and Lodz of workers ofthe study comparative his In union. trade of the chairperson the with interview the from Information Information from interviews with workers and trade unionists ; Ę r. 806 The difference between the political climates of the two countries was reflected also wasreflected countries two climatesof the political the between The difference This difference could havebeen explained through morethe comprehensive Rebuilding Poland: Workers and Communists 1945-1950 805 , while there were no actions of similar scale in the city city scaleinthe of similar actions of no , while were there 807 Wende had come. Many people did, however, also expressa had however, did, Many people come. IG-Metall, Geschäftsbericht 1993 bis 1995 , Ithaca: Cornell University Cornell Ithaca: , 333 CEU eTD Collection of the late Kádár regime can be regarded as more successful. In the light of life-history of the light In the more successful. as canberegarded of Kádárregime late the and essentially did sobefore the political collapseof the regimesin – retrospect, the policy of globalization. from effects harmful them the protect and to intervene state the expected typically they and in Hungary capitalism of implementation the with wrong went something challenge most arguedthat ofmy interviewnot as such: partners capitalism did experiences negative these Interestingly, dispossession. and exclusion with related thus is regime of change The connections. on their capitalize could of who people group narrow beinevitable, Kádár by political they regime to that wasappropriated thought a power considered of the myinterview thecollapse partners amajority Although of property. national markets.acquiring They would for blameold theHungarian sellingoff the elite in interested only were they and rivals, business eliminate and them close to firms “peoples’of foreign local Many arguedthat property”. companies boughtworkers only nothing received old benefited ordinary the privatization and that people elite believed that change of regime was felt to be a period inhave which society wasthe cheated. previousIt was commonly to haveliked men would than who partners interview female more were There Hungary. regimetheir standardofliving, and they claimed thatthey wouldlive have to preferred inKádár’s back. Regardless amarked livedhowever, of reported decline who my interviewof inthe villages, partners of howmaterial compensate argued that security not them for limiteddid freedom. political Many the socialist who workers urban skilled itwas typically security), and social employment, (full system system was of socialist many features the were there positive arguedthat While people GDR context. seen, the ambiguous evaluation in interviews, Hungarian the than Honeckerthe didin regime the transformation was different in the two countries, the Kádár regime received a more Even though party’sthe policy workingthe towards classfailedinboth countries – Even if we take into account that workers’ experiences of workers’ post-socialist accountexperiences that into Even ifwetake 334 CEU eTD Collection regime. of change the of losers the among themselves counted have could - unemployment Communists)counter-productive, because noteven those who identified themselves as socialists (or even wanted proved era essentially Honecker the of repression ideological massive the interviews his regime back, and neither did those who - after years of 809 Honecker-regime. the of memory the that he would notfight against for such asystem, not even his experience of the new society could embellish interviewing, and had been imprisoned in the 1980s for political reasons in808 the GDR. Even though he said freedom. experiencethe through of bea greater of achievement GDRcanonly the explained economic relative basis the the of on – which, country itas a“Western” remembered Hungary,but theEastGerman interview partners whohad visited socialist Hungary also Hungarians, evaluation the Kádárthe of regime not showsanambiguousin picture only enjoyed higherstandard oflivingthan freedom: workers eventhough EastGerman the a political of lack a for compensation sufficient offered security material that true not is the expansion of the private economy. As early as 1968, when the first reforms of the of reforms when thefirst as1968, As early economy. of private expansion the the from benefit to connections, and initiative luck, on depended members its sector, state the in private business and involved betweenthose those inequalities however, sector social -, increased inthestate incomes who were not. –and sector stagnating real incapable private expanding The proved eliminating. of model of collectivistfrom the less that goods everyday shortages the suffered consumer continue standard-of-living the initiated gradual policy marketization: therefore people to party the enabled have could that country the of performance economic the improve formation of the memories of the socialist system. In Hungary the government’s reforms to they had a different impact on the workers’ relations to the party state and also the See: Iván Szelényi, op. cit., 1990. The most “extreme” story in this respect is that of a worker who was homeless at the time of the While both the reformist and collectivist model of the welfare dictatorships failed, dictatorships welfare the of model collectivist and reformist the both While 808 The limited contacts between East Germans and Hungarians also suggest that it that suggest also Hungarians and Germans East between contacts limited The 809 Since the working class was employed in 335 CEU eTD Collection Verlag, 1995. klassenlose Gesellschaft? Klassenlagen undMobilität zwischen Generationen der DDR in 813 812 ChristophKle Hübner- Peter in: Hungary’, in experience and ideology between conflict The class”: “ruling disloyal 811 regime. The collapse membership of in the political party of Hungary preceded Kádár collapse the 1980s and young people increasingly from distanced themselves party organizations. telling thatworking-classremained quotas unfulfilled in industry in large-scale theearly 1980s amarked membership of ofparty decline prestige the it be could was observed: ideology emancipatory of credibility workerist, party.the the of the increasingly undermined therefore experience and ideology between The difference ideology the at widening thatcontradicted of inequalities targeted regime. the increasingly 814 regularly media German East the while media, German West from clear was German inner workers was always wealthy West Germany. The standard of living on the other side of the German most East for comparison of point the that given deprivation, material relative at model could not do much to eliminate the shortage of consumer goods and discontent grew caste, who sought to transfer their privileges totheirsoughtchildren. whoprivileges their to transfer caste, be aprivileged to inequalities, cadreswerestill encourage wideningconsidered not did implemented Honecker that dictatorships welfare the model of thecollectivist Even though and experience everyday openedfor up,albeit differentreasons,in and adifferentway. earlier. visible regime the of decline social the of signs the rendered society of transformation reform. of process the from losers as themselves perceive would workers that clear became it implemented, were economy Hungarian 810 See: See: See the chapter on See, forinstance Heike Solga’s study of social mobility in the GDR (Heike Solga, See: Burawoy-János Michael Lukács, socialism’, ‘Painting op. 1992, cit., 111-142; Bartha,Eszter‘The Losing members Losing Quotas When reform was halted in the GDR, a similar difference between official ideology official between difference asimilar in GDR, the halted was reform When 813 Thus, in the reformist model relative political liberalization and the slow the and liberalization political relative model reformist in the Thus, ȕ . mann-Klaus Tenfelde (eds.), op.cit., 2005, 141-162. Reform and Materialism . . 810 Workers’ criticism was therefore was criticism Workers’ 814 In addition, the collectivist 811 Parallel to this, in the this, to Parallel Auf dem Weg in eine in Weg dem Auf , Berlin: Akademie 336 812 CEU eTD Collection working class, both types of welfare dictatorships – the reformist and collectivist – offered party the inboth countries seek consequently to apoliticalrefused compromise with the While political elites. or activists, opposition on concentrating than internally, rather weak perspective made by focusingof on thesocialist turningpointthe what regimes on 1989 new a can offer workers of history the the that itargues further, a step argument against theruling open working-classregimes the1960s.Taking since protest this noin hadbeen diddefend there where state countries why not workers’ the workers the of explanation historical a offers dissertation this Kádár, and under Honecker party-state of regime. the internal the weakness revealed from country the illusionit enjoyedthe that of flight people support the mass the until of population the the 817 Friedengemeinschaft) F6 Jena Domaschk’, ’Matthias Zeitgeschichte für Archiv (Thüringer GDR. the leave to forced - were Jena in group dissident in WestGermany.rates unemploymentdiscussed erschlossenen Sammlungen & Dokumenten Katharina Lenski-Uwe Kulisch, alternative an to belonged who community worker and committedyoung a suicide uponDomaschk, his arrest Matthias in detention. (For after an overview named of archive the documentsof the see: documents socialist lifestyle valueand were also ruthlessly persecuted. On the dissident culture inJena see the the alternative subcultures of working-class youth who were not willing to accept the officially propagated 816 815 members career. professional the criticismalone let – criticism political any GDR in the discontent, social mounting of leaders their of the partyfrom voicing their dissatisfaction,– in contrastcould to Hungary, where party reports informed lead underpresented Kádár. to exclusion was than repression more systematic much to resorted regime Honecker the Hungary, from the betweenparty the socialist and capitalist systems was much stronger in divided Germany, than in and theprevent the spread of the propagandaend of “classthe enemy” ( of a See, for instance, the reprisal that followed the case of the carnival newspaper described in described newspaper carnival the of case the followed that reprisal the instance, for See, The dissertationonly marginally dealt withthe methods of repression; it should be noted, however, in that detail more in See By undertaking a comparative study of the relationship between workers and the . 817 New inequalities? Thanks to the repressive political climate, the regime could sustain could regime the climate, political repressive the to Thanks 816 Ideological the grass-rootsdiscipline membership prevented Thüringer Archiv fürZeitgeschichte ’MatthiasDomaschk’: Übersicht zuden . (Jena, 2001). MembersFriedengemeinschaft Jeaner of the –a 815 Since the government could not could government the Since Westfernsehen ), and the rivalry Losing 337 CEU eTD Collection workers’ politicalworkers’ after attitudes 1989. of thedevelopment impact on had adifferent differ butthey also that dictatorships welfare the of models reformist and collectivist the of memory the only not is it that seems as negative social phenomena suchas inequalities,growing egoism insecurity.and social It saw for whatthey system capitalist the of functioning the regular mostly blamed partners my interview collapse: theregime’s appeal haveafter agreater seemedto regime Honecker the under ineffective rather was that party the of ideology anti-capitalist the Germany, Union.East In European of the periphery Eastern the on globalization of realities bleak to the opposed as capitalisms for national a desire leading to persist, of capitalism views inidealized of Hungary, transformation painful more the experience them. Despite for generate capitalism could levels high that consumption the and welfare generalized regime believed was its This support. central to experience toillusion contributed of the that class working the of core very the - workers urban skilled with interviews my in Kádár under liberalization freedom political limited markedly criticizedHungary, in was political relative Despite assumed. state Communist the of theories totalitarian of advocated post- its andwestern leaders both than much socially, regime leftthe weaker countries, the party’sboth in performance refusal economic with collided increasingly to policy renegotiatestandard-of-living the terms of agreement with the of continuation the passivity. Since the forpolitical inexchange concessions economic working class 338 CEU eTD Collection márciusi állásfoglalása alapján, 3. melléklet, Munkások havi átlagkeresete. Table 2.Wages ofindustrialworkers inthecounty (Ft) Source: GYML, X.415/128/1, A bérfejlesztésés akülönböz Source: JelentésGYML, X.415/134/2, Gy hatása a dolgozók helyzetére és amunkaer Table 1. Average industry industry Heavy industry industry industry Other industry Other Food industry Light industry Heavy Other Food Light Average Wage increase ofindustrialworkers in thecounty1973 (Ft) 1.711 1.637 1.568 1.880 1968 - 2.069 1.994 1.880 2.256 1972 Appendix: Tables 1.894 1.786 1.735 2.059 - 1970 - Ę mozgásra (a KB november 14-15.-i határozata alapján). Ę r-Sopron megye munkássága helyzetér 2.069 1.994 1.880 2.256 1972 - 2.299 2.236 2.075 2.510 1973 - 2.299 2.236 2.075 2.510 1973 - Ę bérezési formák bevezetésének increasing 230 242 195 254 Ę l a KB l 1974. a KB 11.11 12.17 10.37 11.25 % 339 CEU eTD Collection gender in MVG1977 (person) Table 4.Education andqualification ofblue-collar workers totheir according age and korcsoportonként. megoszlása szerinti végzettség iskolai végzettsége. szerepér szerepér Source: GYML,X.415/195/3, Jelentésmunkásma Table 3.Education workersof according totheirages in MVG1977 (%) Source: GYML,X.415/195/3,Jelentésmunkásma Unfinished Primary School Unfinished Unfinished Education Primary Primary College School School School University or College or University High Primary School Primary Ę Ę l, fejlesztésének feladatairól a Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyárban, MVG összes dolgozójának l, fejlesztésének feladatairól a Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyárban, Fizikai dolgozók iskolai High School High Education Total Age Above Above Above Above Under Under Under Under Age 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 1158 2539 2633 e oe e oe a oa a Woman Women Man Man Woman Men Women Men 754 444 15 13 - Skilled Under- 20 Under- 18. 5 100 6.5 55 88 96 22 56 75 2 - - - 1353 946 824 147 57 78 Semi-skilled - - 20- 30 27.7 60.4 100 5.3 6.6 619 778 479 102 25 29 Ħ Ħ - - vel vel Ę Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér 30- 50 33.2 17.1 46.3 100 335 166 116 3.4 99 5 6 - - Unskilled 435 2846 201 3584 150 3623 55 1 2 Above Total Above 50 - - 27. 5 55.8 100 2.7 14 837 509 276 15 - Total 24.7 51.4 100 3.9 20 1109 1067 159 725 49 86 - - Ę Ę l és l és 340 CEU eTD Collection jellemz szerepér Table 6.Main ofthelibrariesfeatures ofMVG 1975-ös pártértekezlet után, 12,1979.december 11. GYML, X.415/200/3, A közm Table 5.Development education ofthe of of theworkforce Rába MVG(%) Source: GYML,X.415/195/3,Jelentésmunkásma Unfinished Primary School Unfinished Brigade members No. Brigade University or College or University Ę Borrowed copies Borrowed Ę i. Primary School Primary l, fejlesztésének feladatairól a Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyárban, MVG könyvtárainak f könyvtárainak MVG Gépgyárban, Vagon-és Magyar a feladatairól fejlesztésének l, Library stock Library No. Members High School High Visitors No. Ħ vel Ę déshelyzete. Az MVG végrehajtó bizottságának jelentése az Trade union library union Trade 160.690 52.323 66.000 3.209 6.537 1975 54.6 3.4 24 18 Ħ vel Ę dés tapasztalatairól, helyzetér Technical library Technical 12.676 47.395 29.487 2. 675 2. 1979 23. 6 18.3 889 6.1 52 Ę l és 341 Ę bb CEU eTD Collection factory (infactory numberand %) employeesintheZeiss the educationand qualification offemale Development of Table 8. felkészültségük értékelése - –azemberi kapcsolatokra gyakorolt hatásuk. Source: GYML, X.415/200/3, A közvetlen termelésirányítók helyzete, politikai-szakmai Table 7. Managerial wages inselected workshops ofMVG(Ft) in1979 Qualifikationsstruktur. Source:UACZ,Abrechnung 487, WB Nr. der Frauenarbeit1980 Schwerpunkten, nach structure Foundry Factory Vehicle Wagon Forge- Motor Without qualification shop Skilled workers (1+2 workers Skilled Gear Auto Iron University, college University, Direct production Direct Fachshulkader managers years) Total Workers 1191 1214 (No) 227 473 578 993 409 644 production managers Direct (No) Number % 31 20 20 26 29 11 52 18251 12137 5 4270 1096 110 639 1976 managers Factory (No) 23,4 66,5 100 10 0,6 3,5 8 5 3 5 4 7 4 6 production managers/ Number % 12514 18243 workers 1478 3138 164 949 Direct 38 24 45 29 25 34 33 23 1980 68,6 17,2 100 0,9 8,1 5,2 foremen Wage of 5.230 5.215 5.900 5.305 5.160 5.317 5.000 5.418 managers Wage of 6.300 6.220 5.900 6.340 6.275 6.571 6.220 6.270 342 CEU eTD Collection VEB CarlZeiss Jena in1978 workersmen andwomenwage-groupsTable 10.Thedistribution of amongthevarious in Vergleich zuwerktätiger Männern,12. Oktober1978. Source:UACZ, 03740, Analyse VANr. Entlohnung zur Eingruppierung und werktätigerFrauen im (monthly average wages) Table 9.Differentialbetween men andwomenworkers inVEBCarl Zeiss Jena in1978 Vergleich zuwerktätiger Männern,12. Oktober1978. Source:UACZ, 03740, Analyse VANr. Entlohnung zur Eingruppierung und werktätigerFrauen im employees employees % of male employees % male of employees within the within employees Difference (M/month) (M/month) M/month Average Average wage of wage of Number of female of Number female employees inthe employees employees inthe employees within the wage- Number of male of Number male in wage-group wage-group wage-group % of female group Wage- group 457 455 4 2 Wage- group 507 554 47 5 Wage- grp 3 20,2 79,8 99 25 Wage- group 570 576 6 6 Wage- Wage- grp 4 group 2062 26,4 73,4 747 630 675 45 7 Wage- group 669 724 55 8 Wage- grp 5 4571 3082 40,3 59,7 Wage- group 764 836 72 9 Wage- grp 6 1375 3803 73,4 26,5 Wage- group 878 960 10 82 Wage- grp 7 3232 Wage- 91,8 group 289 8,2 1050 12891595 1163 13781707 113 11 Wage- group Wage- grp 8 1334 12 89 96,7 2,2 46 343 Wage- group 112 13 CEU eTD Collection MMG (Mosonmagyaróvári (Mosonmagyaróvári Mez MMG (Kommunista Ifjúsági Szövetség): League of Communist Youth, the youth KISZ (Industriekreisparteiorganisation): the party organization of the IKPO factory (Industriekreis-Parteikontrollkommission): control committee of the IKPKK party IKL GO FDJ (Bezirksparteikontrollkommission): district control committee of the party BPKK (Arbeiterwohnunterkunft): workers’ AWU hostel APO VGMK ( VEB VB (Szakszervezetek Megyei Tanácsa): County Council of the Trade Unions SZMT SED NES: (Magyar Hungarian Szocialista Munkáspárt): Socialist Workers’ Party MSZMP (Magyar Vagon-és Gépgyár): Hungarian Wagon and Machine MVG Factory organization of Hungarianthe Communist party of factory the organization (Industriekreisleitung):leadership of party the organization of factory the base organization (Grundorganisation): German party Communist East youth Jugend):Freethe (Freieorganization the German of Youth, Deutsche (Abteilungsparteiorganisation): departmental party organization (volkseigener Betrieb): state-owned enterprise. executive committee bizottság): (végrehajtó (Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands): Socialist Unity of Party Germany System New Economic Factory enterprise vállalati gazdaságimunkaközösség List ofabbreviations Ę gazdasági gazdasági Gépgyár): Mosonmagyaróvár Tractor ): economic productive communities of the of communities productive economic 344 CEU eTD Collection napirendi anyagai. (1971). X. 415/110.MSZMP Gy X. 415/58.MSZMP Gy X. 415/56.MSZMP Gy X. 415/48.MSZMP Gy napirendi anyagai. (1975). X. 415/47. MSZMPX. 415/47. Gy X. 415/60.MSZMP Gy X. 415/58.MSZMP Gy X. 415/57.MSZMP Gy napirendi anyagai. (1983). X. 415/37. MSZMPX. 415/37. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1983). X. 415/36. MSZMPX. 415/36. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1983). X. 415/35. MSZMPX. 415/35. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1982). X. 415/34. MSZMPX. 415/34. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1982). X. 415/33. MSZMPX. 415/33. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1982). X. 415/32. MSZMPX. 415/32. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1981). X. 415/30. MSZMPX. 415/30. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1981). X. 415/29. MSZMPX. 415/29. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1980). X. 415/26. MSZMPX. 415/26. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1980). X. 415/25. MSZMPX. 415/25. Gy X. 415/14.MSZMP Gy napirendi anyagai. (1977). X. 415/12. MSZMPX. 415/12. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1977). X. 415/11. MSZMPX. 415/11. Gy napirendi anyagai. (1976). X. 415/7.MSZMP Gy X. 415/5.MSZMP Gy napirendi anyagai. (1975). 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Bezirksparteiarchiv Gera.Nr.IV Feindlicheder SED B-2/4/297. Handlungenim 348 CEU eTD Collection Jena F6 Friedengemeinschaft. Zeitgeschichte"Matthias Domaschk":Thüringer Archivfür WB Nr.564. Frauenpolitik. WB Nr.487. Frauenarbeit. GB Nr.2400.Lohnpolitik. GB Nr.2288.Lohnpolitik. GB Nr.2287.Lohnpolitik. GB Nr.2284.Lohnpolitik. GB Nr.2278.Lohnpolitik. GB Nr.2274.Lohnpolitik. 1569.GB Nr. Eingabe. GB Nr.1204bis 1209.Brigadebuch. VA 4743. Eingaben.Nr. VA 4722. Informationsberichte. Nr. VA 4617. Eingaben.Nr. VA 4447. Eingaben.Nr. VA 4446. Eingaben.Nr. VA 5170. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3742. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3741. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3740 Frauenarbeit. Nr. VA 3737 Frauenarbeit. Nr. VA 3590. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3455. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3453. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3451. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3450. Eingaben.Nr. VA 3106 Frauenpolitik.Nr. VA 1842. Stimmungsbericht.Nr. VA 1583. Unterlagen KulturNr. zurDirektion undSozialwesen. VA Nr. 1231. Geschäftsbericht des VEB Carl Zeiss JENA. VA 934. Eingaben.Nr. VA 933. 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