"I understand that it is difficult to abstain from using this or that event to resolve tactical problems. I urge trade unions to carry out stable and balanced work, which is not timed to political events in the country," Vladimir Putin told a congress of the Federation of Russia's Independent Trade Unions.
Russian trade unions today are not as proactive in politics as they used to be under Putin's predecessor Boris Yeltsin, and Putin said the federation has lost 10 million members in the last five years.
The federation currently comprises some 29 million members.
Elections to the State Duma, parliament's lower house, will be held in December 2007, and the presidential election is scheduled for March 2008.
Putin said trade unions should cooperate with authorities and businessmen. "But it [cooperation] should not be politicized, and tactical goals should not be given priority over strategic issues," he said.
Putin also criticized trade unions for their inactivity, and urged them to protect the interests of workers properly.
"Trade unions sometimes fail to take responsibility for resolving specific work problems and disputes, remain passive and play a purely formal role in protecting the interests of workers and staff teams," Vladimir Putin said.
The president also criticized trade unions for their failure to observe environmental legislation, which often leads to fatal accidents.
He also said unions should propose effective formulas for labor evaluation, especially in the budget sphere, where wage rises should be accompanied by improved quality of services.
The president urged unions to regulate labor migration, and said they should put forward realistic economic demands.
"You should take into account the socio-economic situation in the country and the priorities for its development," he said.
