The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) continues and strengthens its cooperation with the Swedish organization "Union to Union" to consolidate the trade union movement and raise awareness among workers about their rights, UNN reports, citing a statement from the FPU.
Today, a meeting was held at the FPU with representatives of the Swedish organization "Union to Union" — Strategic Development Manager and Director of Development Programs Lana Willebrand and Ukraine Program Coordinator Oksana Huz-Blank.
FPU Chairman Serhiy Byzov expressed gratitude for the systematic support provided to Ukrainian trade unions during an extremely difficult period for the country. Such cooperation is not only a manifestation of partnership but also a vital factor in the resilience of the trade union movement.
The results of the FPU's work were presented at the meeting. Discussions covered the active conclusion of sectoral agreements and the conduct of constructive dialogue with the government, including working meetings with the Vice Prime Minister, ministers, and heads of state institutions.
Significant attention was paid to practical results — the defense of workers' rights by sectoral unions and trade union associations, as well as resolving issues regarding wage arrears.
"We have been able to achieve all this thanks to the professional approach of so-called 'cold diplomacy.' We maintain a dialogue with the government side, as objective circumstances today limit the possibilities for mass actions, pickets, and rallies. However, the firm word of the trade unions remains significant and influential," emphasized Serhiy Byzov.
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Cooperation between the FPU and the Swedish organization Union to Union has been ongoing for several years. At the beginning of the year, an agreement was signed aimed at consolidating trade unions and increasing workers' awareness of their rights.
Currently, seven all-Ukrainian trade unions are participating in the project: workers in nuclear energy, culture, communications, forestry, aircraft manufacturing, healthcare, as well as the Kyiv Regional Trade Union. In the future, trade unions for trade and education are expected to join, indicating an expansion in the scale of cooperation.
Lana Willebrand emphasized the importance of continuing the partnership. "We are pleased that our intensive cooperation will continue for another three years. Our goal is to expand the circle of partner unions, explain the structure and specifics of trade union work in Ukraine, strengthen interaction, and develop joint initiatives," she noted.
The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine emphasizes that it continues to move along the path of developing international partnerships, strengthening the positions of Ukrainian workers at both the national and international levels.