Oleg GRYGORIUK, Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Transport Workers‘ Unions of Ukraine and leader of the Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU), made a powerful statement in support of Ukrainian transport workers at the 46th ITF Congress, which is currently taking place in Morocco (Africa).

As a result, together with other ITF member organisations, Ukrainian delegations – representatives of railway workers, transport builders, subway workers, seafarers and dockworkers – fully supported the Resolution, which will now form the basis for shaping ITF’s future policy.

The Resolution categorically:

CONDEMNED Russia’s actions that are destroying Ukraine’s civilian and transport infrastructure;

EMPHASISES the need to recognise the harsh, life-threatening conditions in which Ukrainian seafarers, dockworkers, port workers, railway workers and other transport workers are currently working;

ATTENTION is focused on the environmental disaster and ecocide caused by the destruction of industrial facilities and urban infrastructure by the enemy;

RECOGNISES the key role of Ukrainian seafarers in the operation of global logistics routes, the role of Ukrainian dockworkers in cargo handling and the role of railways and other Ukrainian transporters in supplying vital grain in accordance with the World Food Programme and supporting the Ukrainian economy;

WARNED about the problem of reservations from mobilisation for critical infrastructure workers;

EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES to the families, organisations and trade unions in connection with the deaths of transport workers due to the war.

On behalf of Ukrainian transport workers, we called on the International Transport Workers’ Federation to:

  1. Formulate a comprehensive strategy to support and protect Ukrainian transport workers.
  2. Appeal to the Government of Ukraine to recognise seafarers and railway workers as key workers at the national level and provide them with additional protection:
  3. The rights of Ukrainian seafarers to work, including through transparent border crossing procedures, facilitating the remote receipt of qualification documents, seafarers’ identity cards and passports through electronic services, to support the smooth operation of global supply chains.
  4. The rights of Ukrainian railway workers to work, including through additional protection and motivation in the performance of their duties in conditions of increased risk to life and health.

In his speech, Oleg Grygoriuk addressed almost two thousand representatives of transport workers around the world that there should be no shame in supporting Ukraine, there should be no stress or fear in supporting our country, because those who support us support Life, Democracy, Freedom and Independence.

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!