VPZU States we are ready for solidarity actions in support of your courageous fight!

The Free Trade Union of Railway Workers of Ukraine (VPZU) has written to Mick Whelan General Secretary of the train drivers union ASLEF with a message of solidarity to all members who are due to stake strike action at 15 companies starting Friday 12 May.   The letter from Volodymyr Kozelskyi, leader of the VPZU is published below. It follows a bizarre attack on ASLEF  by the Secretary of State for Transport’s that ASLEF is not standing in solidarity with Ukraine.  When in fact ASLEF which is an affiliate to the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign has long history of direct support for Ukraine’s struggle for freedom. Unlike the Tories.

Dear Colleagues,

The Free Trade Union of Railway Workers of Ukraine (VPZU) supports the demands of ASLEF and is ready for solidarity actions in support of your courageous fight for the labour rights of the trade union members.   

We are eternally grateful for your actions in the campaign, especially in the organization of measures to provide humanitarian aid to members of VPZU. Your help is an invaluable contribution to the development of international trade union solidarity and, without a doubt, is a real support of railway workers’ unions in wartime conditions.

Fight, brothers and sisters! Let your voice be heard by those who are capable of making righteous and equitable decisions! We are sure that your example will give impetus for new bold protest actions of trade unions to protect the violated rights of workers!

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG!

Best regards

Volodymyr Kozelskyi, head of the VPZU

Below: ASLEF General Secretary with voluteers of the Territorial Defence Force in Kyiv in February 2023.

VPZU members at a protest