By Colin Turbett, Ukraine Solidarity Campaign Scotland

Following my own visit as a retired UNISON Branch Chairperson, to Kharkiv last year, links were made between a number of UNISON branches in Scotland and trade union workplaces in this city, 30 miles from the Russian border, and the second largest in Ukraine.

At the end of September, war conditions permitting, four stewards from Lothian Health, North Lanarkshire Local Government and South Lanarkshire Local Government branches, will visit workplaces and meet city officials who deliver public services in this war-ravaged city. Their programme involves both trade union federations: the KPVU and FPU and will take in settings such as health facilities, an underground school and centres of aid for refugees and victims of the Russian invasion. The visit is officially supported by UNISON’s Scotland Region.

The delegation’s purpose is threefold: to report back on their findings within UNISON and help realise the conference policy passed last year, raise the profile of trade union support for Ukraine in the wider trade union movement in Scotland and importantly, provide financial aid to the organisations they meet who need help in their work. The Crowdfunder has raised the profile of the visit within the trade union movement and beyond in Scotland, and it is hoped we will reach £10,000. As the branches involved are all meeting their own expenses, all donations are for aid purposes. All support for this venture very welcome from comrades.

• Donate at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/unisonscotlandkharkivvisit

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