Miners from Chervonohrad (Lviv Oblast) say they are ready to picket PJSC DTEK Zakhidenergo due to wage arrears, a part of miners from two coalmines of state-run enterprise Selydivvuhillia (Donetsk Oblast) refused to go down into the shaft.
The miners have to resort to the protest actions due to the critical situation, which had emerged at the coalmines of the Lvivvuhillia state-run enterprise, the Ukrainian Confederation of Free Trade Unions information department reported with the reference to head of the regional branch of the Ukrainian Independent Trade Union of Coal Miners in Chervonohrad Vitaliy Onizhuk. The current situation at the state-funded enterprise is complicated due to the wage arrears to the miners, he said.
“There was no salary and is still none of it. Therefore, the council of the chairpersons of the trade union organizations of the Ukrainian Independent Trade Union of Coal Miners in Chervonohrad decided to picket PJSC DTEK Zakhidenergo. As they owe Hr 115 million to the Lvivvuhillya state-run enterprise. We will hold an action from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., this Friday,” the trade union leader said.
“If we do not receive positive responses regarding debt repayment, we are ready to block the railway in Dobrotvir and Burshtyn, where the thermal electric power plants are situated. Thus, we will obstruct coal delivery. Besides, we are ready to demand the state re-privatize DTEK Zakhidenergo,” Onizhuk said.
As for the situation at the two mines of the Selydivvuhillia state-run enterprise, a part of miners from the first shift of the Novohrodivska and Ukraina coalmines refused to descend into the mine due to salary non-payment on Wednesday morning. On the whole, the situation at the Selydivvuhillya state-run enterprise is very complicated and the problems of the state-funded enterprise are not resolved, chairman of the primary organization of the Ukrainian Independent Trade Union of Coal Miners Serhiy Pavlov said. Thus, 36% of salary for May and 94% – for June are owed to the miners as of now.
“The miners demand salary payment and the allocation of money for individual protection equipment. Besides, the staff of the Selydivvuhillya state-run enterprise will hold a conference today, in particular, to discuss the issue of strikes,” he said.
