Union of Petroleum Industry Workers

a trade union, founded in Baku in September 1906.

The Union of Petroleum Industry Workers drew in workers of all trades employed in the petroleum industry. Its executive board was located in Balakhany, one of Baku’s older petroleum districts. The Bolsheviks directed the union’s activities. The union had branches in Bibi-Eibat, Surakhany, and Chernyi Gor-od. In March 1908 it had more than 7,000 members. It led the strike movement, carried on educational work among the workers, and obtained better medical services for the workers.

During the reaction, the Union of Petroleum Industry Workers lost much of its membership. In March 1912, after a series of searches and arrests, it was suppressed altogether. In May 1917 it resumed its activities. By the end of 1917 it joined together more than 29,000 people. In January 1918 it sent a delegation, headed by its chairman, I. T. Fioletov, to the first All-Russian Congress of Trade Unions in Petrograd.

The Union of Petroleum Industry Workers was subsequently incorporated in one of the sectoral trade unions of the Azerbaijan SSR, since 1976 known as the trade union of petroleum, chemical, and gas industry workers.