Election of the Head of the Federation of Trade Unions: Majority of Organizations Support Incumbent Chairman Byzov

The procedure for nominating candidates for the position of Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPU) has officially concluded. Sectoral trade unions and territorial trade union associations have decided on their contenders: a total of three candidates have been nominated, with the current head of the FPU, Serhiy Byzov, receiving the most support, reports UNN.

The election of the Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions will take place during the IX Congress of the FPU on May 21 of this year. Trade union organizations were required to decide on their candidates by May 4.

Thus, the main contender for the position turned out to be the current Chairman of the Federation, Serhiy Byzov. He was nominated by the vast majority of sectoral trade unions – a total of 31 organizations. Among them are trade unions of workers in aircraft manufacturing, energy, healthcare, the defense industry, transport, the banking sector, culture, and other key sectors of the economy.

His candidacy was also supported by 18 territorial trade union associations, including those in Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Poltava, and other regions, as well as the Kyiv City Council of Trade Unions.

This level of support effectively makes Byzov the undisputed favorite for the upcoming elections.

In addition to Byzov, two other candidates have been nominated for the position of FPU Chairman.

The candidacy of the Deputy Chairman of the Atomprofspilka (Nuclear Power Workers' Union), Pavlo Prudnikov, was supported by five sectoral trade unions, including those representing workers in nuclear energy, housing and communal services, maritime transport, and radio electronics. According to media reports, his candidacy is also actively supported by the controversial MP Halyna Tretyakova, which, according to journalists' assumptions, could be interpreted as interference in the elections.

At the same time, former MP Serhiy Kaplin received support from only one sectoral trade union – the fishery workers of Ukraine. This is not surprising, as unlike the first two candidates, who discuss their strategies for the development of the trade union movement, the former MP does not talk about his plans. Instead, on his social media, he actively publishes materials against his main rival – Serhiy Byzov. Media outlets even suggested that such behavior might be related to Kaplin being a technical candidate, and his nomination was intended to draw votes away from the current Chairman of the Federation and ultimately transfer them to Prudnikov.

Meanwhile, some sectoral trade unions and territorial associations did not nominate any candidate. They will decide whom to vote for directly on the day of the election.

The consolidation of the majority of trade union organizations around the current leader indicates a demand for the completion of the reform and cleansing of the FPU from old corrupt elites and the continuation of the course he has chosen for the development of the trade union movement.