Solidarity with Ukraine

Composite motion C21 was proposed by GMB and ASLEF

The motion condemned unequivocally Russian’s invasion of Ukraine. It noted the suppression of trade unions and the “horrendous human and environmental cost of the Ukraine conflict.”

The motion affirmed Congress’s support for civil and labour rights in Russia and Belarus and the immediate release of trade union prisoners, its solidarity with the Ukrainian people including refugees.

The motion further supported the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territories occupied since 2014, financial and practical aid from the UK, a peaceful end to the conflict and the full restoration of labour rights in Ukraine.

The motion instructed the General Council to send solidarity to Ukrainian trade unionists, engage with Ukrainian trade unions and to stand with Ukrainian people in the UK and support them in whatever means available.

Moving the motion for GMB, Barbara Plant said: “Our policies and the principles of our movement demand that we work to secure peace. And they also demand that we stand with the oppressed and the attacked in their hour of need.”

Speaking in support of the motion for PCS, general secretary Mark Serwotka called for “unequivocal support and solidarity for the people of Ukraine, the trade unions of Ukraine and those people who are currently suffering occupation, oppression, brutalisation, mass murder and targeting of their infrastructure in a brutal Russian invasion.

“We stand for international solidarity and that means we must stand with the people and unions of Ukraine. We are not the government, we are an independent, British labour and trade union movement and it is therefore essential that we send our unequivocal support.”

“Not a single delegate here should have any hesitation in calling without any conditions for the Russian military aggression to stop, for the immediate removal of all Russian occupying forces from the land of Ukraine. These people have suffered indiscriminate bombings, mass graves, civilians being targeted and tortured, water and electricity supplies being bombed, a country being sent into the freezing winter without the basics that we take for granted. Who can hesitate in condemning all of that?”

“Our independent labour movement message should be loud and clear: we are with the Ukrainian people, we are with the Ukrainian trade unions, we want Russian out. Only the people of Ukraine should decide what the settlement looks like, not Biden, not Putin and not Rishi Sunak. We condemn the erosion of trade union rights in Ukraine and we call for Western powers to write off all the debts accumulated by the Ukrainian people.

“When workers and people are oppressed, when they are invaded and when they are brutalised, the British trade union movement stands with you.”

The motion was carried.

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