Recently, the Government submitted a draft of the new Labor Code to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. This document caused a mixed reaction among both experts and society at large due to norms that significantly narrow the rights of employees. However, information has emerged regarding the continuation of tripartite consultations with the support of the International Labour Organization on the draft code. This became possible, in particular, thanks to the efforts of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU), which, perhaps for the first time in many years, truly stood up for labor rights. UNN looked into why this became possible.
A turning point year for the Federation of Trade Unions
A year ago, Serhiy Byzov, who headed the All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine, Athletes, and Sector Workers, became the head of the FPU.
Byzov took the position of FPU leader at a time when the organization was experiencing a systemic crisis: seized property, frozen dialogue with the authorities, and undermined authority. The organization was associated with figures deeply mired in corruption and almost complete passivity. It was a shadow of the Soviet past.
Just a year ago, the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine was effectively isolated from communication with the government and parliament, and the instruments of influence on the country's socio-economic policy were blocked.
As Serhiy Byzov stated in one of his interviews, the situation began to change after the renewal of the FPU leadership and the definition of a clear strategy aimed at returning a voice and real influence to trade unions regarding decisions that directly affect workers and their working conditions.
The key tool for restoring influence was the launch of a full-fledged social dialogue in a tripartite format: between the state, employers, and employees. It is this mechanism that allows for discussing problems and quickly converting them into solutions.
This format of work, though not immediately, began to bear fruit.
The year in facts
Thanks to the FPU's initiative, Article 11 of the Law on Labor Relations under Martial Law was amended: now an employer cannot unilaterally suspend a collective agreement. Furthermore, the salaries of civil servants at the Pension Fund and the wages of social sphere workers increased 2.5 times — a direct result of the Federation's appeals.
For the first time in a long while, the FPU has its own representatives in parliament — MPs Yuliia Hryshyna, Yehor Cherniev, and Andrii Klochko. This allows trade unions to return to the legislative process and defend their position.
An example of systemic work was the continuation of the discussion on the draft Labor Code. The FPU disagrees with many norms embedded in the document. Serhiy Byzov clearly articulated these "red lines": according to him, the current version of the bill only partially takes into account the position of trade unions, which is critical given the role of labor relations in the post-war reconstruction period. At the same time, he emphasized that the FPU categorically opposes the introduction of a lockout provision, which allows an employer to stop the operation of an enterprise in response to a workers' strike. In his opinion, such a norm creates risks for labor collectives, who are already working under conditions of low wages and high workloads.
Separately, Serhiy Byzov drew attention to the problem of wage arrears, citing the example of enterprises where workers have not received money for years, such as the Odesa Port Plant. He emphasized that trade unions insist on effective mechanisms to protect workers in such situations.
The head of the FPU also criticized initiatives to limit the influence of trade unions on management decisions of enterprises, in particular, the deprivation of the right to express no confidence in managers. According to him, this could lead to abuses and a deterioration of the situation in labor collectives.
The FPU has submitted its position to the Government and Parliament.
The FPU's return home
Recently, by decision of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, the Federation of Trade Unions will be able to return to the House of Trade Unions on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv. The court also overturned the decision to transfer the building to ARMA. Despite the fact that the building remains partially seized within the framework of criminal proceedings investigating the corrupt actions of the previous FPU leadership, the Federation will be able to return home after settling some formal procedures.
"This is a return home. You return home when you have been in exile for a long time, when your things, your offices, everything was sealed, when your colleagues, trade union members, were led out of their offices at gunpoint, when you went out to the Maidan with the military to defend your rights. This has been a long time of struggle and hardship. Today's decision brings us home,"
He called it a landmark event. But this would not have been possible if the FPU had not begun to gain agency.
In addition, on April 21, 2026, the Economic Court of Appeal returned a building in Lviv to the trade unions. The right to use 12 sanatorium facilities of Ukrprofozdorovnytsia has been restored.
Caring for the military
The owner of veteran financial services FinStream and Cronvest, military man, veteran, and entrepreneur Serhiy Poznyak recently voiced the figures: over 43,000 military personnel have undergone rehabilitation in trade union sanatoriums since 2014. Over 40,000 defenders and their family members received psychological support.
"For some, these are statistics. For me, these are people. People after wounds, after concussions, after surgeries, after losses,"
After the war, millions of people will return to labor collectives. Some will look for a new profession. Some, after being wounded, will not be able to do what they did before. Some will have PTSD and will require adequate behavior from the employer. Serhiy Byzov also speaks about this.
"I am convinced that the rehabilitation of the military and support for their families must remain an unconditional priority of the state. Trade unions will continue to work to ensure that rehabilitation programs expand and are accessible to every military person and family in need. This is our duty to those who protect the country. And we will fulfill it,"
Restoration of a broad social dialogue
On May 18, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed the current head of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, Serhiy Byzov, as the head of the National Tripartite Social and Economic Council — the highest body of social dialogue, where the Government, business, employers, and trade unions sit at one table. This platform had not functioned for 9 years — now the country will have a chance to restore effective social dialogue.
Serhiy Byzov noted that this decision by the Head of State is intended to strengthen the dialogue between the state, employers, and trade unions.
"This is a responsible mission – to ensure a real dialogue between the state, employers, and trade unions at a time when Ukraine needs unity and fair decisions," – he wrote on his Facebook page.
All this is far from a complete list of the changes that the FPU and the trade union movement in general have undergone over the past year. It is important not to slow down.
"Trade unions will either become an instrument of dignity, or they will finally lose their historical meaning. There will be no third option," - believes Serhiy Poznyak.