Global Rights Index 2014 - Ukraine

Country Rating: 5+

• No guarantee of rights due to the breakdown of the rule of law

• Workers in countries with the rating 5+ have equally limited rights as workers with the rating 5. However, in countries with the rating 5+ this is linked to dysfunctional institutions as a result of internal conflict and/or military occupation. In such cases countries are assigned the rating 5+.

In February 2014, demonstrators occupied key buildings in Kiev to protest the government of then President Yanukovych. Street battles between protestors and security forces ensued, leaving scores dead. The Parliament subsequently used constitutional powers to install a transition government and set an election for 25 May. Since then, the territorial integrity of Ukraine has been threatened. In March, Russia seized the Crimea and is now through proxies contesting key cities in Eastern Ukraine.

Sergyi Bizhko, head of the primary trade union of the NPGU "Production Unit – South Machinery Building Plant named after Makarov," reported that management refuses to provide premises for trade union activities. He stated that trade union leaders to do not get time off for trade union activities. The union filed a case with the court.

Pavel Efimovich, the head of the primary trade union in Korosten reported that the administration of the locomotive depot discriminated and put pressure on him because of his trade union activities. The KVPU sent an official letter to the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, requesting to investigate the situation and undertake appropriate measures.

In June 2013, the trade union leader of the primary trade union of the NPGU at "Interpipe NTZ" was dismissed without consultation with the union or any justification. An appeal was filed with the local administrative court.

In August 2013, Petro Garmash, leader of the Independent Trade Union of DonbassAero Company, reported that 724 employees at the company were dismissed from work without consultations with trade unions in violation of the law and an enterprise level collective agreement. Oleg Novikov, the General Director of DonbasAero refused to recognise the collective agreement as an effective document and did not consult the union with regard to staff reduction and dismissals. The union appealed to the General Prosecutor, the Ministry of Social Policy, the Labor Inspection, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Dues and Taxes and the Ministry of Economy which has not led to any results so far.

In May 2013, Igor Pryzhbylo reported to the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine that management of Ordzhoni-kidzevugillia breached a collective agreement with the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU) in Unokomunarivsk and Vuglegirsk. According to the collective agreement, the company owes the union 214.450,00 Hryvnas for cultural and health activities at the coal-mine Poltavska.