Equality, Collective Bargaining, Ukraine

(October 2016) At a meeting with trade unions on 18 October, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman said that the issue of the wage system reform is one of the most important priorities of the Governmen, along with further increases to social standards. He said: ‘It is very important for us that every hryvnia that could be invested in improving the social standards should be used for that. It is our priority." The unions have welcomed a doublling of the minimum wage to UAH 3200 (EUR 115) from 1 January 2017.

(December 2016) The FPU trade union confederation organised a national demonstration on 8 December to keep the pressure on the government as it drafts its budget for 2017. The unions have a number of demands including urgent action to tackle low pay and wage arrears. Better pensions and protection of the health service against commercialisation are also important priorities (see resolution for further details). EPSU sent a soldarity message.

The Health Workers' Union of Ukraine has called a national demonstration on 12 September in protest at the government's failure to respond to a labour dispute raised by the union last year. The union is claiming a general rise for all healthworkers as well as resolution of an issue relating to highly skilled workers' pay. The demonstration will also highlight the need to increase health sector funding and will protest against government plans for restructuring and to cut hospital beds.

The Health Workersù Union of Ukraine (HWUU) organised a major protest outside the national parliament on 19 September focusing on pay, healthcare funding and against the commercialisation of the health system. The union called on the government to respond to the labour dispute registered by the union last year and to deal with urgent issues around unpaid wages and failure to properly implement the agreed pay system. The union was also calling for increased funding for the sector and other initiatives to improve health provision. EPSU sent a message of solidarity.

The Service and the State Employees’ Union of Ukraine (SEUU) has signed a new three-year agreement covering the protection of labour, social and economic rights of border guards. The agreement aims to improve working conditions, professional development, training and skills. It also covers health and safety, wages and working time. The SEUU sees this as an important agreement covering more than 7,000 workers in around 50 units.

Co-ordinated international solidarity and a delegation of European and international trade union leaders have helped push the government towards revising its labour law reforms. The changes announced by the government at the end of last year would have seriously undermined trade union and employee rights and Ukrainian trade unions have been campaigning solidly against the proposals. The international delegation met a number of ministers and secured a commitment that the reforms would be revised to ensure that they are in line with International Labour Organisation conventions.