How do LPR trade unions differ from Ukrainian squalor?
Natalia Maksimets, journalist, deputy of the Lugansk City Council
With the outbreak of hostilities in the Donbass, the head of the LPR, Valery Bolotov, signed an order according to which the employees of all enterprises employed in the army of the South-East and the government retain their jobs, and their wages are also calculated and paid in full. Failure to comply with an order is regarded as sabotage and treason.
This was the first document of the young republic aimed at protecting the rights of workers. This topic was also touched upon in a speech to citizens on the day of the proclamation of the LPR: “We will change the role of trade unions in the management of enterprises at the legislative level. The current trade unions have shown their complete inconsistency in the new political situation,” said Valery Bolotov. Therefore, the creation of the Federation of Trade Unions of the LPR became very logical.
In principle, there is no need to talk about building a fundamentally new organization: the old structure is quite suitable for performing the functions inherent in a body that is called upon to take care of the comfortable existence of the working person. Only some faces will change. The main thing that is expected from trade unions is a fundamental difference from the squalor that they have become in independent Ukraine, dumb and toothless appendages of the directorate, obedient executors of the will of the owners of factories, newspapers, and ships.
The Federation promises to re-create the legal framework, and above all the law on trade unions, which is already under development. However, it is obvious that LPR workers are more concerned about the content of the new Labor Code. And there is something to work on here.
Take, for example, the employment of young specialists. The requirement of employers has long turned into a sad joke: almost universally, people are hired only if they have at least three years of experience, while no one can answer where hundreds of graduates of educational institutions can get experience. Employers complain that there is no one to tinker with young people, and for mentoring masters demand additional payment, which does not suit the owners of enterprises with their eternal pursuit of profit.
Another offensive requirement is age: after 35 years, the chance of getting a decently paid job rapidly decreases, and for pensioners it is completely eliminated.
I am glad that the leadership of the Federation of Trade Unions of the LPR has clearly rejected the current Ukrainian Labor Code, which is clearly written exclusively in the interests of enterprise owners. In Ukraine, only the Communist Party engaged in harsh and reasoned criticism of this draconian set of rules for the exploitation of workers. I think that those who will draw up the new LC will not have to strain themselves too much: it is enough to take as a basis the most meaningful Code of Labor Laws in protecting the interests of workers, which Ukraine inherited from the Soviet system. All experts agree that this is the best code in terms of protecting workers' rights.
Speaking before the founding assembly, the new head of the Federation of Trade Unions of the LPR, Oleg Akimov, uttered very general phrases: the creation of trade unions at all enterprises, regardless of the form of ownership; the collective agreement will be developed and concluded only under the auspices of the trade union; Special attention will be paid to issues of decent wages, job creation, labor protection, and children's health.
Of course, we will have to work in difficult conditions: some enterprises have been liquidated, others have significantly curtailed their activities. But it is necessary to move from words to deeds as quickly as possible. Moreover, the leadership of the republic assured that maximum assistance would be provided to the Federation of Trade Unions.
“We count on your active civic position and expect effective assistance in legislative activities,” said Alexander Malykhin, head of the administration of the head and government of the LPR.
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