The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign welcomes the decision of the National Union of Mineworkers to affiliate to our campaign. The NUM is a trade union which holds immense respect in the labour movement and we are honoured and privileged to have them as a supporter.
The NUM has a longstanding relationship with the trade union movement in Ukraine, especially the Trade Union of Coal-Mining Industry (PRUP) and the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU). When the war began in Ukraine the NUM took a clear internationalist position:
“The NUM supports the international principle of self-determination and expresses its support to our brothers and sisters in the miners’ union PRUP, who are calling for all interference from outside Ukraine to stop. The NUM calls for a peaceful resolution to the current issues facing the people of Ukraine and our thoughts are with all the miners’ in the Ukraine who we regard as our friends.”
The NUM welcomed a delegation of Ukrainian miners from Donbas at the Durham Miners Gala in 2014 and then sent two delegations to Ukraine visiting the mining areas and meeting with an array of activists of the trade union movement.
The NUM also set a delegation to attend the All-Ukraine Miners Congress in April and took part in a mass demonstration against pit closures at the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament. A third larger delegation from the NUM is going to Ukraine later this month to visit the coal fields and meet with fellow trade unionists.
The NUM has a set an example of solidarity to the entire trade union movement and we welcome their affiliation alongside the train drivers union ASLEF to our campaign.
Кампанія Солідарності з Україною 