Ukraine: Let's stop the government's offensive against the labor rights of citizens!
ByOleg Vernik, Vitali Dudin. Labor Protection Union
This material is being written when a major scandal has just broken out in Ukraine.. The president of the parliamentary committee on social policy, Galina Tretyakova, author of the anti-union law project number 2681, has publicly stated that "poor quality" children are born to poor Ukrainian families in need of state social assistance.. further, has said that she is impressed by Singapore's experience with its forced sterilization of mothers who cannot raise their children without state support.
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In this context of sad analogies with eugenics, Hitlerian seudociencia, The attack by the “Servant of the People” presidential party against the trade union and labor rights of Ukrainian citizens seems absolutely expected.. During the last 15 years, The successive bourgeois authorities of Ukraine are trying to "modernize" the labor legislation of Ukraine and, first, decree the nullity of the norms of the Labor Code that has remained in force since 1971. Of course, the Labor Code of 1971 It has already been updated many times and, step by step, has been losing its functions of protecting the labor rights of workers. However, At this time, the Code remains our outpost in the fight against the liberalization of labor relations in Ukraine exclusively in favor of the employers..
What anti-union innovations does the Servant of the People offer in his bill No.. 2681?
1. The powers of union committees are revoked (elected union bodies) to require company owners to terminate the employment contract with the head of the company if he violates labor laws;
2. An absolutely insane restriction is introduced on the formation of more than two unions in a company. At present, many major Ukrainian companies may have even more than 10 different union organizations. That is to say, patterns will create 2 "yellow" unions, while other combative unions will no longer be able to organize in the company;
3. Union committees lose their right to coordinate the application of disciplinary sanctions (banns) to union committee members;
4. The dismissal of members of the union committees will be carried out without agreement of the union's highest body;
5. Now, to create a primary union organization, At least ten members will be needed, and not three like today. This will make it impossible to form unions in small businesses and in autonomous subdivisions of businesses..
6. Unions will no longer be able to control the activities of the canteens, residences, kindergartens and other social facilities belonging to the company;
7. Unions will not be able to require employers to present documents on workers' working conditions;
8. Unions will not be able to control the payroll and social security accounts of the State;
9. Mandatory deductions from companies to primary union organizations for the organization of cultural activities cease, sports and recreational;
10. The prohibition on bosses to fire former members of union committees during 1 year.
11. The employer does not pay union committee members for 6 days a year assigned to them for their union training.
Not all the anti-labor innovations of the criminal law project number are listed. 2681 promoted by the parliamentary group of the presidential party “Servant of the People”. Today, Trade union rights are under constant pressure. Due to the impertinent cases of non-observance of guarantees and even the persecution of unions, Ukraine, together with Belarus, They occupy the lowest positions in Europe in the ranking of the Global Rights Index of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC Global Rights Index – 2019). A wave of neoliberal reforms from the Zelensky government drowns Ukraine. Nevertheless, Every day the resistance to this offensive against the popular masses is strengthening. Both the post-Soviet Trade Union Federation of Ukraine and new independent unions have united to counter the government's plans. The International Trade Union Confederation (CSI) and its leader Sharan Burrow have clearly stated to everyone: «Any successive promotion of the draft law No. 2681 without real and significant participation of unions, as well as its inconsistency with international labor standards and the Constitution of Ukraine, "will undermine Ukraine's reputation as a reliable trade and international partner.".
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Workers and unions face decisive battles for the preservation of the labor rights of Ukrainian workers.Our strength is born from unity!
