IndustriALL Global Federation of Trade Unions, representing more than fifty million workers in the mining, energy and manufacturing industries around the world, appealed to the Prime Minister of Ukraine regarding the situation at the state-owned enterprise Vostochny Ore Mining and Processing Plant (SE VostGOK).
Like reports Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine, Walter Sanchez, Secretary General of this authoritative international organization expressed serious concern about the risks of unemployment for eight thousand workers and devastating environmental consequences in the event of a plant shutdown.
The appeal notes that IndustriALL Global Union supports its affiliates, the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine and the Atomprofsoyuz, in their demands on the state bodies of Ukraine:
1) immediately find a solution that all employees of SE "VostGOK" have been waiting for a long time, in order to ensure the sustainable operation, maintenance and development of the "Vostochny Ore Mining and Processing Plant" in order to be able to save jobs for its 8,000 employees in order to protect them rights and ensure timely payment of wages;
2) take immediate measures to prevent the destabilization of the strategic nuclear sector of Ukraine, which is the basis of the state's energy independence;
3) find a solution for: unblocking the economic situation and searching for assets /investments /any solution in order to prevent the shutdown of any of the enterprises /mines of the complex, to prevent an environmental catastrophe as a result of work stoppages;
4) maintain social dialogue with trade unions working in the nuclear energy sector, not only in the negotiation process, but also in the actual implementation of decisions;
5) comply with all international obligations ratified by Ukraine, within the framework of nuclear safety, sustainable development and ecology regulation.
“IndustriALL Global Union therefore calls on you, as Prime Minister, to act immediately to ensure that sustainable industrial policies, including energy policies, are formulated and implemented through genuine social dialogue with trade unions as the only way to tackle energy sector reform challenges. Last but not least, IndustriALL Global Union calls on you to ensure, in particular, stable work and development of SE VostGOK, as well as timely payment of wages to your employees. I hope for your prompt action and response, ”wrote Walter Sanchez in his appeal.
IndustriALL Global Union is a global union federation founded in Copenhagen on 19 June 2012. IndustriALL Global Union represents over 50 million people in over 140 countries working in the mining, energy and manufacturing supply chains globally.
