“Our Task is to make the Government revise the budget of coal-mining industry”. The Presidium of the Central Committee of “UkrCoalUnion” made a decision to conduct a protest action.

On 15 January 2015, the extended meeting of the Presidium of the Central Committee of “UkrCoalUnion” was held in Kiev. The main agenda issue was associated with the Unions activities in view of the lack of expenses for coal-mining enterprises in the Budget 2015 and failure to comply with demands of the Collective industrial agreement.  
     Victor Turmanov, the Chairman of Independent Unions, his deputies Valeriy Mamchenko and Vyacheslav Mosendz, leaders of territorial and primary organizations of “UkrCoalUnion” as well as Mr. Yuriy Zukov, the first deputy minister of power and coal-mining industry and Mr. Oleg Musiy, people’s deputy participated in the presidium meeting. 

When opening the presidium meeting, Victor Turmanov underlined that for the first time of the independence of Ukraine the coal-mining industry had remained without the state support for the partial costs payment at prime cost of the final coal products. “Mines did not receive sufficient budgetary funding in the past and especially for the production development, but such a state support took place. Enterprises succeeded in balancing and paying wages to mine-workers at the expense of this fact, - said the Chairman of Independent Unions. – Currently there is no such support at all. It means that more than 30 state-owned mines located at the territory of Ukraine turned out under threat of closure”.    

Victor Turmanov said that in period of the draft state budget 2015 development “UkrCoalUnion” submitted the appeal to Mr. Peter Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, Mr. Arseniy Yatsenuk, the Prime-Minister of Ukraine, Mr. Vladimir Demchyshyn, the Minister of Power and coal-mining industry of Ukraine with proposals regarding the industry funding. The appropriate assessments, calculations and justifications were discussed at the Ministry of Power and Coal-mining industry of Ukraine. During the meeting the parties found comprehension of funding issue between the union and the Ministry, however the developed proposals were not supported and the industry was deprived with funding of the main items of expenses this year.   

“In existing conditions we’ve got only one task – by common efforts make the Government revise the budget and relation to the coal-mining industry. We will be able to ensure stable operation of mines as soon as we solve this problem” – Victor Turmanov underlined.  

The chairmen of territorial union organizations read problem issues of the mining industry employees and their concerns because of catastrophic funding situation at coal-mining industry during the meeting.  

Mr. Yuriy Zukov, the first deputy minister of power and coal-mining industry, spoke at the meeting and answered those issues. He reported in particular that the absence of sufficient quantity of funds gives the industry necessity of costs optimization including the reduction of employees. It is scheduled to reduce the management staff at mines.  Mr. Yuriy Zukov emphasized that staff reduction was planned to get performed at the Ministry as well. He also went into other urgent issues.  

Mr. Oleg Musiy, people’s deputy, passed his support to the employees of mining industry. He noted that he was ready to make legislative initiatives regarding making changes in the budget of coal-mining industry as well as battling for mine-workers’ interests at all levels.  

Having discussed an issue, the Presidium of the Central Committee of “UkrCoalUnion” made a number of decisions. Among them are as follows: require from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to introduce a bill legislation to the Parliament for the current year which makes provision for the resumption of mining industry funding from the budget in accordance with the unions proposals, and also restoration of earlier acting social guarantees for employees and pensioners. 

The demand to the enterprises owners was made not to allow reducing financial support of economic and social programs during the current year at the level which was established in 2014.

     The presidium members made a unanimous decision to start an indefinite protest action in the form of the Cabinet of Ministers picketing commencing on 28 January 2015.