In April-June 2016, the central Government adopted a number of decisions to raise almost twice the price of natural gas for the households (with simultaneous cancellation of preferential prices) and the tariffs for hot water and heating in 1.8-2.2 times. In September, they are planning to increase the electricity tariffs by 30%, the regional water utilities are initiating increase of the tariffs for cold water.
Such decisions are taken without discussion with the parties of the social dialogue and in violation of the laws of Ukraine and of the General Agreement in force.
The FPU believes that the measures being currently implemented by the Government are insufficient, and the increase of revenue is not commensurable with the scale of price and tariffs increases leading to inevitable decline in living standards of the citizens.
Given the above, in order to protect the rights and interests of workers in terms of shock rise in gas prices and tariffs for housing and communal services, the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine approved the Statement of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the JRB of employers at the national level due to the shock rise in gas prices and tariffs for housing and communal services and decided to organise on 6 July 2016 at 10.00 in Kyiv the All-Ukrainian Protest March and picketing the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The FPU’s affiliates will organise on-site actions in support of the all-Ukrainian Protest March.