Trade unionists were prominent amongst both the speakers and participants at the Solidarity with Ukraine conference in Brussels organised by the European Network for Solidarity with Ukraine at the end of March.
Ukranian construction workers leader Vasyl Andreiev and Oksana Slobodiana from the health workers union Be Like Us were joined by Felix Le Roux from the French federation Solidaires and Cati Llibre from the General Union of Workers in Catalonia on various panels
Oksana explained that social and health workers, especially those who remain in the war zone, work in stressful conditions with increased risks. Overwork leads to burnout and psychological problems for health professionals. Low wages and benefits; often paid late, compound those issues
She continued: ‘healthcare reform began in Ukraine even before the war. Since then, medical institutions have been closing, hospitals have been optimized and merged. This has had a significant impact on healthcare workers, who are losing their jobs. This process didn’t stop during the war. The situation has worsened considerably: many medical facilities were closed as a result of shelling and artillery fire’. .She explained how her organisation works and called for ‘for joint action to protect labour rights and create fair working conditions for all.
Other significant aspects of the event included the involvement of Russian dissidents where Maria Menshikova, Dmitrii Kovalev and Viktoria from Feminist Anti-War Resistance stressed that any victory for Putin would be a defeat for the movement for democratic rights within Russia while Yvanna Vynna from the Ukrainian feminist organisation Bilkis presented her organisation’s role in supporting the defence effort while fighting for women’s rights.
A number of parliamentarians from different countries participated. Radical Vermont Senator Tanya Vyhovsky, argued. “This is not business as usual, and unfortunately the vast majority of Democrats are acting as if it is … the Musk-Trump-Putin agenda is a global fascist agenda. Finnish MEP Li Andersson led the discussion on how to provide Ukraine with the arms it needs to expel the invader while not buying into a militarist rationale of plans for “defence spending”.
Former leader of the Swedish Left Party Jonas Sjöstedt said: “The war in Ukraine is not only raging on the front lines. The battles taken by labour rights defenders, climate activists and women’s rights activists are shaping and will continue to shape Ukraine’s future. We must stand up in solidarity with these movements…continue to stand up for worker’s rights.. and .. continue to drive change to stop the ecologically disastrous Russian shadow fleet [of rusting oil tankers].”
Speaking at the close, Oksana Dutchak, (Ukrainian journal Commons), compared her mood — sombre beforehand given the Trump-Putin moves to “fix” Ukraine behind its own back, and inspired afterwards from the wave of solidarity at the conference.
Feautured image: Banner: Russian troops out Solidarity with Ukraine with many people behind and lots of Ukranian flags visible. Photo: Steve Eason