Read this article in:
13 July, 2005ICEM News Release No. 19/1999
The union representing workers at Chernobyl and Ukraine's four other nuclear power stations has postponed the start of an indefinite strike in order to leave time for current conciliation efforts to be completed. The strike was to have begun on 22 March.
However, the ATU union warned that the nuclear workers' wages have still not been paid. The national nuclear power utility Energoatom owes them more than 15 million US dollars.
Protests are therefore continuing. In particular, the "canvas cities" of tents pitched by thousands of workers around the nuclear power stations are being maintained. The union is continuing to insist on payment of the wage debt in full, and the nuclear workers remain ready for a full strike if needed.
At the global level, the ATU is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
In a statement, the ATU Presidium said it shared the ICEM's view that the various international financial institutions and intergovernmental agencies which are supporting the renovation of the Ukrainian nuclear industry must give immediate priority to targeted assistance for the settlement of the wage debt. On 17 March, the President of Energoatom and the Energy Minister told the ATU Presidium that the necessary funds were still not available.
The ATU also asked the ICEM to continue the information campaign on the dispute via the Internet and other media.
"By postponing full strike action for as long as possible, the Ukrainian nuclear workers have proved their high sense of responsibility to the international community," commented ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe this afternoon. "The world's major governments, financial institutions and agencies must now show a similar sense of responsibility and make full funding immediately available for the payment of the nuclear workers' past, present and future wages. Otherwise, industrial action, with the attendant safety risks, could become inevitable."
However, the ATU union warned that the nuclear workers' wages have still not been paid. The national nuclear power utility Energoatom owes them more than 15 million US dollars.
Protests are therefore continuing. In particular, the "canvas cities" of tents pitched by thousands of workers around the nuclear power stations are being maintained. The union is continuing to insist on payment of the wage debt in full, and the nuclear workers remain ready for a full strike if needed.
At the global level, the ATU is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
In a statement, the ATU Presidium said it shared the ICEM's view that the various international financial institutions and intergovernmental agencies which are supporting the renovation of the Ukrainian nuclear industry must give immediate priority to targeted assistance for the settlement of the wage debt. On 17 March, the President of Energoatom and the Energy Minister told the ATU Presidium that the necessary funds were still not available.
The ATU also asked the ICEM to continue the information campaign on the dispute via the Internet and other media.
"By postponing full strike action for as long as possible, the Ukrainian nuclear workers have proved their high sense of responsibility to the international community," commented ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe this afternoon. "The world's major governments, financial institutions and agencies must now show a similar sense of responsibility and make full funding immediately available for the payment of the nuclear workers' past, present and future wages. Otherwise, industrial action, with the attendant safety risks, could become inevitable."