BUT BRITISH TUC BACKS RUSSIAN PRO-WAR PUPPETS AT ITUC WORLD CONGRESS

The ITUC — the world’s largest global trade union confederation, with 331 affiliated organisations in more than 160 countries has started its —fifth world congress in Melbourne, Australia.

In a motion to the ITUC , the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU), the All-Ukrainian Union of Workers’ Solidarity (“VOLYA”), the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) have called on the congress to expel the notorious  pro-war Russian Federation of Trade Unions (FNPR).

Shamefully the Executive of the British TUC decided to oppose the Ukrainian trade unions,  thus defending what is an agency of the Russian state fully engaged in the Russian war of genocide against Ukraine.   The trade unions GMB, PCS and NUM have writte to challenge this position which contradicts the views of the vast majority of TUC affiliated unions and trade union members. The TUC leaders must be called to account for this shocking position.

We publish below the Ukrainian motion to the ITUC.

Above: The reality of the Russian war on Ukraine – a Kyiv street after a missile attack in October.

A JOINT APPEAL OF UKRAINIAN TRADE UNION ORGANIZATIONS – ITUC AFFILIATES

Dear brothers and sisters,


We are addressing you on behalf of the members of the Federation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU), Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU), All-Ukrainian Union of Workers’ Solidarity “VOLYA” (VOST “VOLYA”) and the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU), which represent Ukrainian workers who live in conditions of war and resist the Russian aggressors.

We are grateful to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and its member organizations, which have expressed their solidarity and provided aid to trade unions and the people of Ukraine, who are fighting for freedom, peace and democracy.


Once again, we appeal to you regarding the unacceptable actions of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (FNPR), which supports Russian military aggression and violates the principles declared in the Constitution of the ITUC: “The maintenance and strengthening of peace and commits itself to a world free of weapons of mass destruction and to general disarmament.”

In 2014, the FNPR already supported Russia’s occupation of parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Crimea, where Ukrainian democratic trade unions were banned, subjected to repression and even killed their leaders. And continuing its consistent policy, it supported the large-scale invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.


Nowadays, the FNPR continues to openly support the war against Ukraine, as well as the actions of the Putin regime. Moreover, the FNPR conducts actions in support of the Russian army and mobilization within the framework of a “special military operation”, provides assistance to the Russian military who kill the Ukrainian population, and cooperates with trade union organizations of the occupied annexed territories. Moreover, its representatives are involved in the illegal transportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.

In addition, the FNPR held the World Day of Action for Decent Work under the slogan: “Everything for the front, everything for victory.”

ITUC member organizations from Ukraine – FPU, KVPU and VOST “VOLYA” – have already appealed to the ITUC on this matter and demanded the exclusion of FNPR from ITUC.

As a result, by the decision of the Executive Committee of the ITUC on May 18, the Council confirmed the suspension of the membership of the FNPR based on the recommendation of the commission of inquiry established by the Council.

Russian Federation continues to destroy Ukraine and commit genocide against its population, using rocket strikes and bombs prohibited by the international law, carrying out terror in the occupied territories, creating concentration camps and deporting the population, including children, to Russia, destroying infrastructure and energy facilities, with the aim of leaving without water, electricity, heat for millions of Ukrainian residents during the cold season. Russia is committing the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. In addition, the Russian regime is provoking an economic, food, and energy crisis in the world with its war in Ukraine, undermining achievements in the direction of the global fight against climate changes and the promotion of democracy.

FNPR, as a trade union that supports the criminal actions and policies of the Russian authorities, both in terms of spreading information and carrying out actions, cannot remain a member of the ITUC.

We request the exclusion of the FNPR from ITUC at the 5th World Congress of the ITUC

Mykhailo Volynets

President of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU)

Grygorii Osovyi

President of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU)

Oleksandr Dzhulyk

President of the All[1]Ukrainian Union of Workers’ Solidarity “VOLYA” (VOST “VOLYA”)