The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), which represents Fórsa and other unions with a collective membership of over 20 million, has condemned the recent Russian attack on Ukraine in the strongest terms.

The federation has called for the withdrawal of the armed forces and for negotiations to find an agreement to bring security and peace to Europe.

The invasion has been condemned by many including the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the European and global trade union movement.

Fórsa general secretary Kevin Callinan joined a call with leaders of Ukrainian trade unions on Wednesday (2^nd March) to hear about the situation first-hand and to learn how best the union can provide practical support.

Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Pan-European Regional Council, said the war “hits people and workers first,” and called for democracy to be re-established immediately.

“Europe must stand strong against Putin’s aggression and put maximum pressure on his regime, and entourage in particular, to bring about peace and dialogue. We cannot allow policy to be shaped by violence, and we expect world and EU leaders to protect Ukraine’s integrity as well as the security of all other countries in the region.

“Solidarity is at the core of trade unionism and our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are showing that’s not just a slogan by putting their lives at risk every day to care for the most vulnerable victims of this invasion. We urge working people who can support their humanitarian efforts to do so,” said Visentini.

Over a million people - mostly women and children - have so far been displaced from Ukraine according to the UN Refugee Agency, with scores of people killed in Ukraine, including civilians.

In Russia, more than 1,700 brave people protesting against the war have been detained, and the already fragile economy began to weaken yet further immediately after Putin launched the invasion.

ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow said: “We mourn for those who have lost their lives and offer our deepest condolences and solidarity to those who have lost loved ones or been injured.

“The imposition of sanctions by governments which support democracy and the rule of law is both inevitable and justified and should focus particularly on the entourage of President Putin who is leading Russia down this destructive path and threatening peace in Europe and the world.

ITUC has called for world leaders to take urgent and definitive steps to initiate dialogue and find a peaceful solution to this crisis in line with the charter of the United Nations.

Demonstrations have been held in cities across Europe to show solidarity with the people of Ukraine, including rallies across Dublin.

Fórsa is also working to provide humanitarian aid to the people affected in Ukraine in the form of a fundraising initiative. To find out more, please visit our website. 

Ukrainian trade unions have been working to provide food and shelter to people after the Russian invasion amid attacks which have left people’s homes, workplaces, and infrastructure badly damaged.

The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine (FPSU) and Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU) trade unions, which represent almost 5 million workers, have thrown open the doors of their buildings across the country to people seeking refuge, including women and their children, elderly people and now people wounded in the conflict.

Ukrainian trade unions are doing everything they can to contribute to efforts to protect people, peace and democracy and the European trade union movement is providing all the practical and political support it can.