The European Trade Union Confederation reiterates its full support for Ukrainian trade unions.
The ETUC expresses its solidarity and support for FPU following the latest attacks on trade union property and the house arrest of their President and member of the ETUC Executive Committee Grigoriy Osovyi.
As Ukraine engages in accession discussions, it is crucial to ensure full compliance with the social acquis, full respect for the role of social partners and trade unions, promotion and reinforcement of social dialogue and collective bargaining.
The ETUC underscores that the European Commission stressed in the Ukraine 2024 Report the need for the government to “strengthen the capacities of social partners”.
In this framework, trade union rights must always be fully respected.
The ETUC stresses our grave concern about the continued advancement of Draft Bill 6420, which proposes to seize the property of trade unions, in violation of trade union rights and Ukraine's international obligations.
We recall that the ILO requires member states to guarantee “the right to adequate protection of trade union property as one of those civil liberties which are essential for the normal exercise of trade union rights”.
The ETUC continues to condemn Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, but this cannot be used as an excuse for attacks against trade unions, nor to undermine their capacity, in particular at this crucial time where the labour reforms are being discussed.
The ETUC urges the Government of Ukraine to remove the threat to FPU leadership and property and instead to develop a programme in line with obligations under the ILO and EU to support genuine social dialogue, recognise the prerogatives of trade unions and guarantee the protection of trade union property.
