Massive protests of unions in Kiev on 7 October 2021 - World Day for Decent Work
(6 October 2021) Thousands of trade unionists will take to the streets of Kiev tomorrow (7 October) in the latest demonstration against the government’s anti-worker and anti-union policies and legislation.
At the end of 2019, draft legislation was proposed that was incompatible with International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and the social legislation of the European Union (EU). The deep and comprehensive free trade agreement with the EU commits Ukraine to align its legislation with EU regulations including social legislation on working time and health and safety.
The international trade union movement intervened at an early stage with EPSU joining a delegation in January 2020 led by the global (ITUC) and European (ETUC) trade union confederations and a series of demonstrations and actions around the world followed in February 2020.
Actions and protests have continued since then and EPSU has supported repeated efforts by the ITUC and ETUC to help Ukrainian unions push back the labour reforms. Most recently the international labour movement wrote to the government and parliament setting out how key draft laws remain incompatible with international labour standards.
EPSU added its voice to the demands of the ITUC and ETUC that the drafts be withdrawn, that any formal proceedings in the parliament be stopped and that any legislative changes be subject to full consultations with trade unions.
EPSU has also joined with the ITUC and ETUC and other international trade union bodies to condemn the Ukrainian government’s attempt to seize trade union property without any consultation or negotiation with the trade unions.
EPSU has sent a message of solidarity to its Ukrainian affiliates in support of the demonstration and its key demands not just on the labour reforms but on a range of other measures including increases to the minimum wage and social benefits.
- Video of the press-conference of Ukrainian Confederations
- Statement of the Ukrainian unions
- For the Ukrainian version of this webarticle
- Massive protests of unions in Kiev on 7 October 2021 ( UK, EN )
Ukraine
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