Union Rights, Ukraine, France
Unions call for more funds for public sector wages
(August 2016) The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine along with public sector trade unions have called on the government to take urgent action to increase public budgets. The unions argue that there is not enough money allocated to pay public sector wages for the whole year. Healthcare alone requires an extra UAH 2.58 billion (EUR 90 million). The unions argue that the shortfall in budgets is undermining workers’ rights as they are forced to take unpaid leave or shift to a part-time work and are losing out on other payments.
Confederations express concern over labour law proposals
(June 2017) The three main confederations have expressed their concern over some of the elements of the new government's proposals for reforming labour law. The details won't be published until the end of June but already the unions have raised issues with plans to rebalance collective bargaiing towards the company level, reform workplace representation and reduce compensation for redundancy. They argue that they see little in the proposals to benefit workers and remain unconvinced that reducing employment protection will boost job creation. A process of consultation is planned for the summer
Trade unions react to labour code proposals
Proposals to reform the labour code were published owin 31 August with some initial negative reactions from the trade unions. A common response was that the raft of reforms was being put forward before there had been a proper evaluation of the changes that have been implemented in the last four years. Unions expressed concern about rebalancing of the relationship between sector and company-level bargaining and changes to compensation in cases of redundancy. In small companies (less than 50 employees) it will be possible for employers to negotiate with non-trade union representatives and in
Unions resist attacks on rights and attempts to seize property
Trade unions across the country are working together to resist state interference in trade union affairs and attempts to take over trade union property including offices and training centres. The latest incident occurred in the Zarpattia region in the west of the country where trade union activists from different sectors gathered at the entrance to the offices of the regional trade union council to physically resist attempts to take over the building by the authorities.
Trade union demonstration calls for action on jobs, pay and union rights
On 17 October, around 20000 trade union members from both private and public sectors marched through Kyiv city centre and blocked the government quarter. The main demands of the demonstration were for investment in industry for decent jobs, raise the minimum wage to help stop emigration, not to increase utilities prices, for the state budget to allocate the equivalent of 7% of GDP to education and 5% to healthcare, to urgently pay outstanding wages to more than 100,000 workers and to stop state’s takeover of trade union property and respect trade union rights.
Federation calls for protection of trade union rights at parliamentary hearing
The FPU trade union federation took part in a parliamentary hearing earlier this month to highlight the urgent need to protect basic trade union rights. The trade union representatives gave evidence of the attacks on trade unions, banning of trade union leaders from workplaces and attempts to seize trade union property by the authorities. The unions set out a range of demands to the committee including a law to protect trade union property, measures to underpin the right to strike and effective enforcement of the core ILO conventions on collective bargaining and freedom of association as well
Firefighters on strike over jobs and pay
Seven trade union organisations, including the CGT, CFDT, FO and UNSA, representing 85% of all firefighters have been taking strike action to demand improvements in pay and for a significant increase in jobs. The joint actions began in June and are running until the end of August. The unions want to see the withdrawal of legislation on public service reform and a number of other measures to improve pay, health and safety, pensions and trade union rights. A key demand is an increase in recruitment on statutory conditions. There are 40000 professional firefighters. This is the same number as in
Union protest focuses on labour code and 2020 budget
Around 5000 protestors joined a demonstration on 14 November organised by the FPSU trade union confederation. The trade union demands concerned the draft Budget for 2020 and the Labour Code. Unions are concerned about changes to the law that deprive civil servants and public sector workers of rights to social protection upon dismissal and planned changes that contain discriminatory rules on the employment rights of employees and threatens their collective protection. The unions also have specific demands on minimum and living wages and pensions.
Unions mobilise against labour law changes
Trade unions organised a demonstration in Kiev on 17 December as part of a campaign against proposed changes to the labour code that would weaken workers’ protection. EPSU has sent letters to the Ukrainian government demanding that it discusses and negotiates with the unions. The ETUC Executive Committee and the Pan-European Regional Council of the ITUC have also adopted positions in support of the Ukrainian unions.
Protests mount over labour law reforms
EPSU and other international trade union organisations have joined the protests against labour law reforms that would undermine worker and trade union rights. Among other negative changes, the reforms would reduce protection against dismissal, increase working time, allow for zero-hour contracts, undermine collective bargaining and weaken trade union rights' to organise. Trade unions were not involved in any consultation over the proposals and EPSU has sent a letter of protest to the government.