STATEMENTS: **SOCIAL MOVEMENT, INTERNATIONAL AND EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATIONS**
SPEECHES IN UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT (VERKHOVNA RADA)
***PROTEST HOUSE ARREST OF FPU PRESIDENT GRIGORIY OSOVYI***
Source: FPU facebook page, edited machine translation
On 19 June, a large rally was held in front of the Trade Union House in Kyiv on Independence Square in defence of the rights of trade unions and the labour rights of workers belonging to the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) and its member organisations.
This peaceful gathering was aimed at finding a fair solution to the issue of the Trade Union House, which had been seized by the private company KAMparitet. The participants demanded that the building be returned to its rightful owner, the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine.
They held banners reading: ‘The truth is with us, Hands off people's property, Give us back what is ours, President, listen to the trade unions, Respect the military.’
A large number of police were present at the scene. Repeated attempts by employees to get to their workplaces were in vain, as the new security guards in the building, protected by the police, did not respond in any way.
A significant number of people who came to the walls of the building were members of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine, athletes and workers from various sectors. These are military personnel, veterans, and soldiers with combat injuries and disabilities.
In the absence of an office, they sat on the steps on the backs of their comrades, wrote applications for financial assistance, and expressed their outrage that, despite their self-sacrifice for the country, they were left unable to do their jobs without access to their workplace.
The participants held an impromptu rally near the central entrance on the steps of the Trade Union House, where speeches were made by FPU Deputy Chairman Yevgen Drapyaty, Serhiy Byzov, chairman of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine, Athletes and Workers, Nataliya Zemlyanska, chairwoman of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Industrial Workers and Entrepreneurs of Ukraine, Nadiya Korinna, chairwoman of the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Lawyers of Ukraine, and workers who were unable to get to their workplaces.
The speakers expressed their outrage at the actions of the ARMA, the forceful seizure of the building by the company ‘KAMparitet,’ and the violation of the constitutional rights of trade unions and workers. The protesters called for an immediate end to the illegal actions against the Trade Union House and for the restoration of free access to the building.
June 12 statement by Social Movement (edited machine translation) On 6 June, events took place at the Trade Union House in Kyiv that can hardly be called normal for a state governed by the rule of law. In the morning, representatives of ARMA (the The National Agency of Ukraine for Finding, Tracing and Managing Assets Derived from Corruption and Other Crimes — ed.) broke into the building together with employees of the newly appointed ‘property manager’ — the UK KAMparitet consortium.
This company is involved in a high-profile corruption investigation, which proves the connection between the new owners of the assets and Minister of Justice Stefaniishyna. In less than a year, KAMparitet won four tenders for the management of seized property — more than a third of all tenders held by ARMA.
Employees of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine were given an ultimatum: either sign contracts with the new manager within three days or leave the premises. Access to workplaces was blocked by unknown individuals of athletic build. People who went out for a break were not even allowed to retrieve their personal belongings. Journalists were only allowed in after prolonged resistance.
Trade union activist Natalia Zemlyanska was also injured — she was pushed, fell and injured her leg. Soon after, MP Serhiy Rudyk, who has a public reception office here, arrived at the building. He was also initially denied entry.