Ukrzaliznytsia hopes to have dialog with trade unions without provocations, says statement
Representatives of the free trade unions of Pivdenna railways and the union of free trade unions demanded the reinstatement of the former head of Pivdenna railways Oleksandr Filatov at a rally near the cabinet building on Tuesday, July 15.
"Few rally participants who called themselves representatives of 'free trade unions' really came to demand the reinstatement of a representative of the government of Viktor Yanukovych, and under his steerage of Pivdenna railways many facts of inefficient use of the state property were revealed," the State Railway Administration of Ukraine (Ukrzaliznytsia) said.
The administration said that Filatov was dismissed from the post of head of Pivdenna railways due to the non-fulfillment of the conditions of his contract. During the check of the financial and economic operation of Pivdenna railways over the period when he headed the enterprise, many systemic financial infringements were revealed, in particular, over-spending of funds on overhauls and the involvement of third-party enterprises which did almost 80% of the work, while the divisions of the railways could have done this work. The check also revealed over UAH 6 million of non-production-related expenses and other financial infringements.
"As for the social demands of the rally participants, a consensus meeting was held at the Cabinet of Ministers with the participation of the Infrastructure Ministry, Ukrzaliznytsia and the leaders of free trade unions… An agreement was reached that production problems which do not contain a political aspect will be considered by specialists in details and the balanced decisions will be made at a meeting at the Infrastructure Ministry which will be held next week," Ukrzaliznytsia said.
The administration said that some demands of the rally participants have been settled. In particular, the previous orders on the reorganization of the passenger economy of railways were canceled under an order of Director General of Ukrzaliznytsia Borys Ostapiuk of July 4.
"Ukrzaliznytsia represents and warrants that the administration observes the regime of labor and relaxation of locomotive crews (locomotive drivers and their assistants) in line with the requirements of Ukrainian law and the existing burden. The administration provides for the proper conditions for conducting medical examinations for railway workers, other social guarantees and it is ready to consider the demands of trade unions via understanding, cooperation and social dialog, as it happens with the numerous Trade Union of Railway Workers and Transport Builders of Ukraine, with which the sector agreement is in effect," Ukrzaliznytsia said.
