Political declarations and actual practices of Siberian Councils in labour issues (March - October, 1917)
The article considers the directions, the forms and the results of the activity of Siberian Councils of Workers’ and Soldiers’ Deputies aimed at solving a range of problems united by the concept “labour issue”. The paper analyzes the role of Councils in regulating the legal status of workers and employees in the sphere of labour relations, their relationship with the state and employers, in providing proper working conditions and the standard of living. The author concludes that the organized interference in the relations between working people and employers aimed at finding a compromise was the fundamental task of the Councils. This tactic remained promising, but only for the limited period. As the revolutionary process developed, the demands of working people extended beyond only economic ones and escalated into political issues. The potential of social partnership had practically outlived itself by autumn of 1917, thus creating favorable conditions for revitalization of the left radicals seeking to use the Councils as an authority alternative.