Ucrania - State-owned Ukraine Railway Ukrzaliznytsia engages in anti-union action

On 14 May 2018, employees of the Ukrainian state railway network Ukrzaliznytsia started a work-to-rule action, in protest of the deplorable state of the railway rolling stock, threatening health and safety of workers and passengers on a daily basis. Workers also continued to protest low wages and excessively long working hours, all these factors resulting in a low life expectancy among workers in the sector. Drivers at Kremenchug, Kryvyi Rih, Darnytsa (Kyiv), and other rail depots refused to drive trains that do not meet safety requirements. The company responded with several anti-union actions, including the engagement of the employer-controlled union organisation in the talks with the government and reportedly paying the strike-breakers with sums amounting to a one-month salary.