Photo by Miha Rekar on Unsplash
Ukrainian civil society actors joined forces with European policymakers to discuss the role of civil society and Trade Unions in the resistance “against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.”
The discussions at a conference in Brussels come as US President Donald Trump continues to pile increasing pressure on Ukrainians to hand over their natural resources and land in exchange for American promises of protection.
Speakers at the event included Ukraine’s Ambassador to the EU, journalists said to be working under wartime conditions, care workers, environmentalists and academics.
They discussed the reconstruction of an equal, democratic Ukraine where workers’ rights are defended.
Particular focus was paid to the impact of martial law on labour, the repercussions of what was called vulture capitalism attracted by a struggling national economy, and the repression of Trade Unions in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Speakers included Finnish MEP Li Andersson (Vasemmistoliitto), who said: “In our support for Ukraine, we must also support Ukrainian workers and unions in their struggle for workers’ rights.”
“Martial law has meant zero-hours contracts, restrictions on collective bargaining and increased working hours. Union actions and strikes have been banned.”
“This is not the kind of social progress that Ukrainian workers want. We need to support Ukraine to meet international social and labour standards, which are also key elements of post-war reconstruction and EU accession negotiations.”
Swedish MEP Jonas Sjöstedt (Vänsterpartiet) also spoke and said: “The war in Ukraine is not only raging on the front lines.”
“The battles taken by labour rights defenders, climate activists and women’s rights activists are shaping and will continue to shape Ukraine’s future. We must stand up in solidarity with these movements, especially in times of war, and we will continue to do so.”
“We must continue to stand up for worker’s rights in the drafting of new labour codes in Ukraine, we must fight for the health care workers who work under even more dire conditions, and we must continue to drive change to stop the ecologically disastrous Russian shadow fleet.”
