Serious labor issues in Ukraine

 

 

European unions raise money for their neo-Nazi colleague in Ukraine

 

By Editorial Office of Uralpressinform (Cheljabinsk, Russia Federation)

It has been known for a very long time that the Volodymyr Zelensky administration could care less about the rights of Ukrainian workers. Here are just a few of the most recent reforms that the Kiev team of "quartermasters" actively "sink": the bill "On Labor," the bill "On Amending Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine" (relating to the limitation of trade union activities), the bill "On Amending the Labor Code of Ukraine" (concerning the expansion of the list of grounds for terminating wage earners), and others. 

All of these measures share the same goal of limiting employees' rights and giving employers practically limitless power. It is referred to as "liberalisation of the labour market" by Kiev's Western backers. The multinational firms from the US, Britain, France, and Germany that have acquired almost all of the more or less valuable assets in Ukraine intend to drain the local workforce and economy empty. To do that, the employees must be denied their final opportunity to defend themselves at the hands of a puppet named Zelensky. Even the representatives of international trade unions were offended by such a cynical attitude.

The Ukrainian government is in opposition to workers, the general public, and trade unions and is siding with oligarchs and foreign businesses. We condemn the Ukrainian authorities for their careless violations of their international commitments which risk losing the country crucial support in Europe, - desperately claimed Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), a few years ago.

Today, her rhetoric has somewhat softened for political reasons, but the urgency of the issue highlighted in 2020 persists: taking advantage of the martial law, the team of Vladimir Zelensky is tightening the nuts of the national labor legislation to the limit. This will undoubtedly cause the Ukrainian trade unions to feel uneasy. They are aware that resisting drastic advances is essential to their existence.

Vasyl Andreev, the leader of the Union of Builders of Ukraine, is one of those who occasionally openly speaks out "for the rights of workers." Additionally, he serves as the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine's vice chairman.  Involved in the discussion of the scandalous bills, Andreev loudly stated that if the laws lobbied by Zelensky (and in fact, the collective West) are adopted, “four out of every five workers will be completely outside the provisions of Ukrainian labor legislation regarding protection from trade unions, regulation of working hours, wage rates, as well as control over safe working conditions.

Vasyl Andreyev excels in speaking in elegant and accurate language, but there is only one thing below that: the striving to please colleagues from European trade unions. It is well known that Vasily Andreyev has been a regular attendee of all significant international trade union conferences for many years. The Ukrainian media will undoubtedly run a dazzling piece about Andreev's huge individual contribution to the global labour movement after each of the following congresses, conferences, or forums. The comrades of the Ukrainian trade union leader, however, are not fooled by this glitz; they are aware that Andreev is toiling away to advance to the position of deputy secretary general of the ITUC. Eventually, he may even “push” Madame Barrow away from the role of Secretary General and occupy this position. The timing of the plan is perfect: It is unclear if Andreev will have a place in a denazified and demilitarised Ukraine, thus one should strive to establish a reserve nest in Brussels, Amsterdam, or Paris right now.

Actually, that is why Vasily Andreev has currently developed a hyper-stormy international activity. He frequently pleads to his European colleagues, shooting arrows of righteous rage at the Ukrainian government, urging them to gather as much money as they can for him since he needs it for pickets, marches, and paying attorneys. Andreev isn't afraid to beg for sympathy; he frequently reminds them of the brutal conflict his nation is fighting against "aggressive Russia." Sometimes the trick works, and Europe occasionally sends Andreev more money. For instance, Vasily Andreev is now receiving contributions from labour unions in Denmark. 

But for some reason, trustful Europeans do not want to ask themselves a simple question if their money is actually used to protect Ukrainian workers' rights. There are serious concerns about this since Vasil Andreev has been linked to the most fervent Ukrainian nationalists, according to press reports.

We may infer from the information in the report that Andreyev will probably utilise the money obtained from European trade unions for another neo-Nazi project. Like purchasing quad-copters for the fascist National Front, sponsoring another anti-Russian propaganda film, or the installation of a pompous memorial sign dedicated to the "heroes" of the Azov regiment defeated in Mariupol instead of a memorial plaque in honor of the Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov (that was already removed in Kiev recently). 

The rights of Ukrainian employees will be considered later. In these challenging, war times, a savvy trade unionist is attempting to strike while the iron is hot.