Free Trade Union of Railway Workers of Ukraine protested at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine successfully on 19 November 2013.

Two hundred workers of the Free Trade Unions Railway Workers of Ukraine came to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine complaining about the fact that the employer (Ukrainian Railway) insists on signing short-term labour contracts with employees. The protesters demanded from the authorities to carefully revise the situation and abolish these types of contracts.

After around thirty minutes of protesting, the authorities of the Minister of Infrastructure invited the representatives from the protesters (Mikhailo Volynets, Head of KVPU, Vladymyr Kozelsky, Head of Free Trade Union of Railway workers and others) to join the negotiation with regard to the demands of the protesters.
During the negotiations it was decided to:

1. Entrust the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ukrainian Railway Department organize the investigation of Wagon unit Zhmerinka (South-West railway line) and to re-conclude contracts with workers by the end of November 2013.

2. Assist the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ukrainian Railway Department to adopt propositions of the Free Trade Union of Railway Workers of Ukraine (FTURWU) as to the revision of the labour contracts by the end of December 2013 and propose alterations to be considered at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine .

3. Request the Ukrainian Railway Department to develop standard labour contract in collaboration with FTURWU by the end of December 2013.
It’s worthwhile mentioning that in Ukraine according to the Center of the Society Study from January till October this year there were 331 protests of workers (11% of the total protests) which is a record indicator compared to previous years. One of the most vital issues raised during such protests were salary debts (43% of the protests).

3. Request the Ukrainian Railway Department to develop standard labour contract in collaboration with FTURWU by the end of December 2013.

It’s worthwhile mentioning that according to the Center of the Society Study from January till October there were 331 protests in Ukraine this year (11% of the total protests) which is a record indicator. One of the most vital issues raised during such protests were the salary debts (43% of the protests).