The Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU) has called for solidarity with their members who are on strike and protesting underground at the mine Kapustin in Luhansk Oblast. (area not under Russian occupation).

The Following bulletins were issued by the KVPU International Department

In Luhansk region, the 14 miners of the mine named after G.Kapustin of the state-owned PJSC “Lysychanskvugillia” are still protesting underground. This protest was launched on 19 of October. Some miners who had been protesting underground came to Kyiv.

According to the Chairperson of the NPGU Mykhailo Volynets, today miners of the mine named after G.Kapustin met with members of Ukrainian Parliament. Also, they he informed them at the meeting about the problems in the coal mine industry.

“Oksana Markarova, Acting Minister of Finance of Ukraine, reported to the Prime Minister that the decision to allocate 300 million UAH to pay off wages arrears of state mines has been approved. These funds should be allocated from the state budget according to the Law #836, that was adopted after a 6-month miners’ campaign and protests. We welcome this decision and hope that miners received some money. But it isn’t enough allocating this 300 million UAH to solving miners’ problems. In this critical situation, we need wide cooperation between representatives of the Office of the President, the Government, trade unions, and scientific institutions’.

Mykhailo Volynets stated that 56 workers of the non-industrial group of the technological complex of the mine ‘Kurakhivska’ are continuing protesting over the wages arrears. They demand to pay the 4 months wage debt. These employees who are mostly women refused to receive wages till money for wages for all workers of mine will be allocated.

“These employees of the non-industrial group of the technological complex of the mine ‘Kurakhivska’ have low wages of 120 EUR. There are a lot of single mothers and miners’ widows between them’ – Mykhailo Volynets commented.

Tue, 30 Oct

On behalf of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine and the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine, I want to provide the update information on the underground protest of miners of mine named after G. Kapustin of the state-owned enterprise PJSC “Lysychanskvugillia” (Luhansk region).

As for today morning, 15 miners and one member of the Ukrainian Parliament are protesting underground. They demand the payment of wages for the period from June to September 2018 and for some months of 2015-2017 years.

Yesterday evening the Chairperson of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU) and the Independent Trade Union of Miners of Ukraine (NPGU) Mykhailo Volynets visited the mine of G.G. Kapustin PJSC ” Lisichanskugol “. He went down into the mine and talked with protesters. The representatives of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry and the management of the enterprise also visited miners that are protesting for 12 days.

These miners show genuine courage and integrity during their struggle for justice and fair payment.

‘But I deeply concerned about their health and lives. During my stay underground in the mine, I talked with them and I couldn’t help noticing how exhausted and tired they were. Some miners seemed to have health problems. The air atmosphere and air humidity in mine are also a point of concern. The miners are in dangerous conditions at a depth of 600 meters. They also faced the psychological pressure. These people work in such extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, but their wages aren’t high. For example, miners of main professions receive 8-9 thousand UAH (250-280EUR). At the same time, miners haven’t been paid this money. I do not know how long miners are going to hold their protest underground. But we’ve discussed some decisions on the protest actions’ – said Mykhailo Volynets.