Ian Doig moving Motion 95 – Solidarity with Ukraine and its Labour Movement
“Since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 the workers of Ukraine have suffered the devastating impacts of war. Thousands of civilians have been killed as Russian rockets, bombs and drones have fallen on residential areas, hospitals, schools, workplaces and trade union offices. Many workers have volunteered or been conscripted into the army onto the frontline to resist the Russian invasion. Many of them have been killed in action.”
“The impact on workers across the country has also been devastating. Power supplies are regularly cut off following Russian attacks, impacting on homes, workplaces and hospitals. Public services have been hugely impacted. UNISON retired member Colin Turbett was recently in Kharkiv and reported how schools had been damaged and that classes have been transferred to the city’s subway system to try to keep children safe.”
“The economy has been devastated with an already poor population hit by rising prices and cuts in services. Public resources have been switched towards the war effort and public servants have been left with scarce resources to provide services. Hundreds of thousands of women have left the country with their children, putting enormous pressure on them as involuntary lone parents seeking refuge in foreign countries.”
“The Russian invasion was condemned and, rightly, support was offered to the Ukrainian people. In Scotland we have debated the right to self-determination over many years. It is a nice debate to have in a democracy like ours but it is an entirely different matter when debated in the face of a violent and deadly invasion by a larger neighbouring power, far better armed and prepared to ignore the force of argument and resort to the argument of force.”
“The right of self-determination comes with the right of self-defence and just as the Vietnamese, or the Cubans, or the Nicaraguans were entitled to be supplied with arms to resist the invasions by imperialist forces, so too are the Ukrainians. That is a point of principle. We are a union that supports peace. However, for us in the trade union movement, it is more than a point of principle. It is a case of solidarity. In particular, a case of trade union solidarity.”
“The working class of Ukraine, as represented by their trade unions, has been united in resisting the Russian invasion. United in calling for solidarity. Solidarity for finances to relieve their rescue workers, their nurses and medics but also solidarity in the most basic form – arms to allow them to defend themselves.”
“Of course, the trade unions also face their own government, committed to neo-liberal policies, of restrictions on trade union activity and the suppression of some forms of democratic expression. So, they also need our solidarity in building and re-building their trade union organisations So that they can be strong enough to fight for peace and for a better society. It is incumbent upon us to respond to that call for solidarity and stand with our Ukrainian comrades.”