p Epic social changes, the growth of production and the deep-going transformations brought about by science and technology have affected the position, numerical strength and composition of the working class in the capitalist countries and influenced the conditions and aims of its struggle. First and foremost, there has been an immense numerical increase. In the mid-19th century there were 9,000,000 workers. Today the number of factory, office and other workers in the capitalist world has risen to 350 million, of whom about 200 million are in the developed capitalist countries.

p The structure of the working class has also changed. There has been, particularly in recent years, a considerable increase in the number of managerial, technical and office personnel engaged in material production. True, these people are sooner semi-proletarians, but their position and role in production are drawing ever closer to the position and role of workers engaged in direct productive work.

p In the leadership of the working-class struggle, the Communist Parties are playing an increasingly more important role. Millions of men and women workers belong to trade unions, and youth, women’s and other democratic organisations; the World Federation of Trade Unions 90 alone has nearly 140 million members. This makes it obvious that the working class is growing not only numerically but also organisationally.

p As a result of the general crisis of capitalism, the strengthening of the socialist forces in the world and, in particular, of the revolutionising impact of the world socialist system and the enlargement of the social basis for the revolutionary movement in the capitalist countries themselves, the present situation in those countries has now become more favourable for the struggle of the working class. Moreover, the working-class movement has accumulated vast experience in combating capitalism and its stooges in the ranks of the working class. It has become more mature ideologically and has grown more organised and militant. The Communist Parties enjoy increasing prestige among the working people, and the power of the trade unions is growing. Led by its organisations, the working class is resolutely opposing coercion on the part of the bourgeoisie, and displaying courage, staunchness, ever greater discipline and unity of action in the revolutionary struggle.

p The working class is using strikes, demonstrations, rallies, conferences, parliamentary debates, the press, the radio and diverse other means to achieve its ends.

p The fact that in the past decade the number of strikers has doubled to reach the annual figure of 55-57 millions shows that the strike movement, an old and tested means of struggle against the capitalists, is growing in scale and that its organisation is improving.

p Today strikes are not only bigger but also more flexible and varied. Besides general strikes, workers stage warning strikes; strikes in which mounting pressure is brought to bear by bringing in other contingents of workers; strikes at key enterprises of the various industries; strikes varying in time (every other day, every few hours of the day, and so on); strikes that hop from one enterprise to another, and so forth. These tactics enable the workers to avoid considerable material losses and, at the same time, enormously pressure employers and secure the satisfaction of their demands. The trend towards greater unity of action is becoming ever more clear-cut in the strike movement.

Thus, the huge scale, the high level of organisation and the flexibility of the strike struggle are a vital feature of the contemporary working-class movement.