Aleksandr Gavrilovich Shlyapnikov

Soviet official

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July 13, 2026

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Aleksandr Gavrilovich Shlyapnikov was a prominent figure in the Soviet Union, known for leading the Workers' Opposition within the Communist Party in 1920-21. This group advocated for workers' rights and for trade unions to control industry. They resisted the central party's authority over local units and trade unions, and opposed the increasing use of non-worker specialists in industry. Shlyapnikov, along with others like S.P. Medvedev and Aleksandra Kollontay, insisted that trade unions, as representatives of the proletariat, should control the national economy. The Workers' Opposition was ultimately rejected at the 10th Party Congress in 1921, and its members faced suppression and expulsion from the party, setting a precedent for future dissent within the party.1

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Workers’ Opposition
Shlyapnikov, S.P. Medvedev, and later Aleksandra Kollontay, not only objected to the subordination of the trade unions but also insisted that the unions, as the institutions most directly representing the proletariat, should control the national economy and individual enterprises. Although the group received substantial support…
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Shlyapnikov, S.P. Medvedev, and later Aleksandra Kollontay, not only objected to the subordination of the trade unions but also insisted that the unions, as the institutions most directly representing the proletariat, should control the national economy and individual enterprises. Although the group received substantial support…
Read More