Ukrainian workers suffered a setback on August 6, when President Volodymyr Zelenksy signed a new law allowing zero hour contracts. However, Zelensky did not sign a more dangerous law that would strip almost all workers of their right to collective bargaining and union protections.
Both laws were passed by parliament on July 19. That Zelensky did not sign draft law 5371 鈥 a focus of trade union protest since 2021 鈥 is an indication he might be feeling this pressure. That is why stepping up international union solidarity is so important.
Despite the devastation being wrought by Russia鈥檚 invasion, trade unions in Ukraine have continued to speak out against anti-worker laws.
A to Zelensky from the Joint Representative Body of Ukraine's trade unions argued draft law 5371 should be vetoed as it 鈥渃ontains a number of extremely threatening provisions that establish discriminatory norms for workers, significantly weaken the level of protection of workers, narrow the scope of labour rights and social guarantees of workers 鈥 [and] undermine the representative and protective function of trade unions鈥.
They have been supported in their campaign by , the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions, as well as the (BWI), the , the European Transport Workers Federation and the .
This comes on top of the support already expressed by the , the world鈥檚 largest trade union federation with more than 200 million members.
The BWI noted in its statement: 鈥淎mong the consequences of the law鈥檚 adoption is the massive violation of workers' rights and further exodus of the most qualified and economically-active segment of the Ukrainian population.
鈥淭o make matters worse, the situation is complicated by the bloody war started by the Russian aggressor against the Ukrainian people.
鈥淟et鈥檚 support the Ukrainian workers鈥 struggle for labour and union rights. Let鈥檚 call on the Ukrainian government to veto Draft law No. 5371.鈥
Javier Pacheco, the Workers Commissions general secretary in Catalonia, has publicly called on Zelensky to veto the law, while the unions鈥 international collaboration agency, , is promoting the campaign.
Meanwhile, the continues to garner support for its , with new signatories including union leaders from Australia, Brazil, Greece, Turkey and Venezuela, as well as politicians from Argentina, Ireland, Peru and Switzerland, among others.
Online trade union news service LabourStart has also in partnership with the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) and Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU), to help supporters send messages to Zelensky.
Similarly, non-profit advocacy group SumOfUs has gathered more than 25,000 signatures for its calling on Zelensky to veto the anti-worker bill.
[Sign the ENSU petition at . Protest letters can be sent to Zelensky at letter@apu.gov.ua, with copies to FPU fpsu@fpsu.org.ua and KVPU info@kvpu.org.ua.]