With the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, large-scale reforms are being carried out to ensure human interests and to protect the rights and interests of workers. The system of trade unions is also actively participating in these reforms, further strengthening its role in society.
The Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan is also carrying out systematic work to study the history of this public organization, particularly the factors behind the emergence of the early trade union movement, as part of increasing the role of trade unions in society. For this purpose, a special working group was established, and research was conducted with prominent historians, researchers, and Orientalists at the Institute of History of the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences, the National Archive of Uzbekistan, the National Archive of Cinematic and Photographic Documents of Uzbekistan, the Archive of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Rare, Especially Valuable and Unique Publications Department of the National Library of Uzbekistan, the Museum of the History of Uzbekistan, and other scientific institutions.
In addition, more than five thousand documents were studied in the archives of the Russian State Historical Archive and the National Library of Russia located in St. Petersburg, and valuable information regarding the history of trade unions of Uzbekistan was identified. Also, more than 500 issues of the newspapers Turkistan, Ishchilar dunyosi (Workers’ World), Xurshid, Taraqqiy, and Samarqand, published during the labor movement under the Turkestan General-Governorship, were studied.
Historical sources show that the earliest trade unions of workers and employees first emerged in the second half of the 19th century in England and America, and that the first trade union movement began in the early 20th century in the Turkestan region. According to research, before the emergence of trade unions, workers and employees in Turkestan, as in the rest of the world, began to unite in various circles, gatherings, and associations. In 1905, 15 such workers’ circles operated in Tashkent.
According to research, trade unions in Uzbekistan have nearly a 120-year history, and the first trade unions in the region were established in 1905 by railway workers and communication service employees.
In the autumn of 1905, the Turkestan branch of the Railway Union was established. In early 1906, it united about 8,000 workers of the Central Asian and Orenburg–Tashkent railways. On July 1, 1906, during the first congress of the Turkestan branch of the All-Russian Railway Union held in Tashkent, the Charter of the employees of the Central Asian and Orenburg–Tashkent railways was adopted. A copy of this document is preserved in the Museum of Trade Union History of Uzbekistan.
Archival documents state that on October 24, 1905, a general assembly of Post-Telegraph workers was held in Tashkent, during which a decision was made to establish the Turkestan branch of the Post-Telegraph Union and members of the committee to manage this work were elected.
In February 1905, about 400 workers of the Orenburg–Tashkent railway and nearly 800 workers of the Central Asian railway at the main workshops in Tashkent submitted 19 demands to their administration. This list of demands aimed at protecting the rights and interests of workers can be regarded as an early expression of the current concept of collective agreements.
In Issue 116 of Samarqand newspaper dated June 10, 1905, the article titled Railway Workers’ Union emphasized the need to establish trade unions that would unite various professions and workers in the railway sector. From December 13 to 20, 1905, the 1st Congress of workers and employees of the Central Asian railways was held. During the congress, a decision was made to introduce an 8-hour workday starting in January. The adoption of this historic decision was a major victory for the trade union movement.
Also, Issue 264 of Russkiy Turkestan newspaper dated December 1905 reported on the establishment of the Union of Office Workers and Accountants in Tashkent.
According to articles and news published in Turkestan, Turkestanskiye vedomosti, Turkestanskiy kurer, Novыy put, and Vpered newspapers in 1905–1906, founding meetings were held for trade unions of Tailors and Shoemakers, Waiters, Cooks and Domestic Servants, Printing House Workers, Workers of the Tashkent Mechanical Plant, Builders, and Female Feldshers and Nurses.
Furthermore, it was discovered that as early as 1906, Turkestan trade unions opened their own library in Tashkent to develop their activities and equip members with necessary knowledge and skills. This indicates not only the high level of interest in trade unions in the region, but also that the first steps of the trade union movement in Turkestan were based on knowledge and enlightenment.
These conclusions confirm that the first trade unions in Turkestan indeed emerged in 1905. This clearly signifies that in 2025, the trade unions of the country will celebrate their 120th anniversary.
