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13 July, 2005ICEM News Release No. 13/1999
Workers at Chernobyl, and Ukraine's four other nuclear power stations, will go on strike unless a dispute over unpaid wages is resolved by tomorrow (6 March). Nationally and globally, unions are warning that the crisis could have implications for safety.
Over the past few weeks, the nuclear workers have gradually been escalating their protests over the wage backlog, which now amounts to more than US$15 million. They have repeatedly warned that serious underfunding of the sector poses a threat to nuclear safety.
Their union, the Atom Trade Union (ATU), issued the strike alert after the government and the nuclear energy utility Energoatom had persistently failed to tackle the wage debt crisis. The union has particularly criticised the government's foot-dragging over a decree that would open new credit lines for the cash-starved Ukrainian nuclear industry.
ATU President Alexander Jurkin is now in negotiations with the Deputy Prime Minister in a last attempt to avert a full strike.
At the global level, the ATU is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
"Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters can count on the full support of their colleagues worldwide," ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe. "The Ukrainian nuclear workers must be paid what they are owed, and the ICEM stands ready to back their campaign.
"Non-payment of any group of workers is wholly unacceptable," Thorpe said. "In the case of nuclear workers, it also poses a threat to the wider national and global community.
"Workers are a key factor in nuclear safety. They have to remain fully alert throughout their shifts. Nuclear workers who have serious financial worries, and who may have to take second jobs out of hours in order to make ends meet, could experience difficulty in concentrating.
"The Ukrainian authorities must ensure full payment of the nuclear workers' wages without further delay," Thorpe insisted, "and they must provide the nuclear industry with the financial resources needed for safe operation.
"The global community must also shoulder its responsibilities," Thorpe said. "Part of the international funding devoted to nuclear safety in Ukraine must be earmarked for the full, immediate payment of the nuclear industry's wage backlog. And the world's governments must insist that, from now on, wages be paid in full and on time to the workers on whom the world's safety depends."
Over the past few weeks, the nuclear workers have gradually been escalating their protests over the wage backlog, which now amounts to more than US$15 million. They have repeatedly warned that serious underfunding of the sector poses a threat to nuclear safety.
Their union, the Atom Trade Union (ATU), issued the strike alert after the government and the nuclear energy utility Energoatom had persistently failed to tackle the wage debt crisis. The union has particularly criticised the government's foot-dragging over a decree that would open new credit lines for the cash-starved Ukrainian nuclear industry.
ATU President Alexander Jurkin is now in negotiations with the Deputy Prime Minister in a last attempt to avert a full strike.
At the global level, the ATU is affiliated to the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).
"Our Ukrainian brothers and sisters can count on the full support of their colleagues worldwide," ICEM General Secretary Vic Thorpe. "The Ukrainian nuclear workers must be paid what they are owed, and the ICEM stands ready to back their campaign.
"Non-payment of any group of workers is wholly unacceptable," Thorpe said. "In the case of nuclear workers, it also poses a threat to the wider national and global community.
"Workers are a key factor in nuclear safety. They have to remain fully alert throughout their shifts. Nuclear workers who have serious financial worries, and who may have to take second jobs out of hours in order to make ends meet, could experience difficulty in concentrating.
"The Ukrainian authorities must ensure full payment of the nuclear workers' wages without further delay," Thorpe insisted, "and they must provide the nuclear industry with the financial resources needed for safe operation.
"The global community must also shoulder its responsibilities," Thorpe said. "Part of the international funding devoted to nuclear safety in Ukraine must be earmarked for the full, immediate payment of the nuclear industry's wage backlog. And the world's governments must insist that, from now on, wages be paid in full and on time to the workers on whom the world's safety depends."