(12 December 2008) The European Federation of Public Services Trade Unions supports the action of the Ukrainian unions.

The financial and economic crisis is hitting hard in Ukraine. It is not acceptable that the government and business seek to shift the burden of the crisis to workers.

We have received reports that there are large scale violations of the labour and socioeconomic rights and guarantees of workers. That workers are unlawfully dismissed. Wage arrears increase and there is a drastic reduction of living standards, employers are trying to curtail labour rights of workers and attack the social guarantees of pensioners.

EPSU as the Ukrainian unions are disturbed by the absence of a common coordinated state policy to address the economic crisis.

We support the demands of the unions therefore:
 To stop ruining the companies. Stop cutting jobs. Pay wages.
 To ensure wage levels that support living standards. Pay off all wage arrears;
 To stop the arbitrary behaviour of banks. Workers need to receive their wages and pensioners their pensions.
 To defend pensioners’ rights and to protect pensions from inflation
 to cancel the planned increases in gas tariffs and to impose a moratorium on further increases in housing, heating, transport and electricity prices till the end of the crisis.

The Ukrainian unions announce that if these demands are not met, they will engage in mass collective action. EPSU supports the days of protest on 17 December and 23 December.

We wish you successful day of action in defence of workers and citizens in the Ukraine.