Between March and May, the management of ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih steel plant undertook a number of anti-union actions against the workers. On 27 March, the management tried to disrupt the general assembly of workers by announcing another venue. The assembly managed to take place and to approve the employees’ demands, as well as the structure of the body authorised to represent their interests in dispute, but the management immediately challenged its legality in the court, unsuccessfully. Subsequently, the management organised an exhausting 26-hour long session of negotiations, forcing a closed-doors rule. When the unions protested, demanding the right to communicate with the workers and requesting the meeting with the CEO, the management called on the security forces and the police. The talks finally resulted in the management agreeing to a creation of a conciliation commission.
On 14 May, the workers started several protests against their dismal working conditions, including a work-to-rule strike, when they refused to operate faulty machines until their technical state meets the standards.
