MOSCOW, July 23, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data about how Russians have changed their attitudes about strikes over the recent 20 years, whether they think strikes are possible in all sectors of economy, as well as the prosecution of participants, and whether Russians think that mass strikes are possible in our country.

More than a third of Russians (38%) regard strikes as a normal method of economic struggle:19% think that this is the only way for workers to get their requirement accomplished; the same part of respondents think strikes are a normal way to solve existing problems (since 1989 the shares of both kinds of respondents have increased from 11% and 15% respectively). Those who have the former point of view are respondents aged 18-24 (24%), the latter - 25-34-year-old respondents (25%). 28% think that strikes are an extreme measure but sometimes necessary today (the share of such respondents has plummeted from 47% over the recent 20 years). Those who have such opinion are respondents aged 35-44 and with high level of education (32% for each). The part of those who believe in the effectiveness of strikes has significantly decreased over 20 years: those who think nothing can be achieved through the strikes are three times more (from 7% to 21%) - most of them are 45-59-year-old respondents and those with low level of education (27% and 25% respectively). Only 3% of Russians consider strikesunacceptable (in 1989 every tenth thought so - 11%).

A relative majority of Russians (51%) are confident that strikes are acceptable in all sectors of economy except for those providing national security (the share of such respondents in 1989 was 39%). As a rule, they are metropolitan residents (61%). A quarter of respondents tend to accept such activity in all sectors of economy - most of them are residents of middle-sized cities (33%) and supporters of such parties as "Yabloko", "Pravoe Delo" and "Patriots of Russia" (33%). Those who think that strikers are unacceptable in all sectors of economy are least numerous12%) - most of them are inhabitants of middle-sized cities (56%) and CPRF party supporters (16%).

The fear of prosecution has considerably increased among Russians. Those who think prosecution of participants is possible are 46% (against 27% in 1998). Most of them are inhabitants of small cities (56%), CPRF and LDPR electorate (52% for each). The part of those who think the prosecution is not possible is 34%: they are mainly metropolitan residents and supporters of "United Russia" party (38% for each).

Every third (32%) accept the possibility of mass strikes in the near future. Most of such respondents are Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (40%) and LDPR party adherents (48%). This point of view is opposed by 44% of respondents thinking that mass strikes are not possible (most of them are residents of middle-sized cities (55%) and "United Russia" party supporters (50%).  Nevertheless, the public attitudes were different in 1989:  those who thought mass strikes were possible dominated over those who had the opposite opinion (36% against 25% respectively).

The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on July 18-19, 2009. 

1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,

the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!