The International Socialist League has been promoting an international campaign of solidarity with the Ukrainian workers of the “Zahist Pratsi” Independent Trade Union and the Ukrainian Socialist League.
With this internationalist activity we have raised several thousand dollars in factories and workplaces, neighborhoods, universities, etc. from different countries. The money has been sent to various regions of Ukraine where the workers are organizing and fighting against the Russian invasion and in defense of their labor and social rights. In this article, we share the words of some of these comrades and their appreciation for the working class solidarity that transcends borders.
Oleg Vernyk – President of the “Zahist Pratsi” Ukrainian Independent Trade Union
“Dear friends, I am Oleg Vernik, president of the «Zahist Pratsi» Ukrainian Independent Trade Union. I want to sincerely thank our comrades of the International Socialist League in many countries of the world for the help they provide our Union during this difficult time of war. This is workers to workers aid. This is aid from ordinary people to ordinary people. The aid has already reached many people. Our Union members are sincerely grateful for this. The aid has already reached union organizations and activists who are in the war zone, defending our country weapons in hand. It has also reached other people in the home front who continue their work under the repression of the bosses. It is very difficult for us now, but proletarian solidarity gives us optimism and confidence in victory. Thank you very much, comrades. Long live the International Socialist League! Long live our mutual aid and proletarian solidarity! Thank you very much! We will prevail!”
Julian and Natalia – Members of the «Zahist Pratsі» trade union committee at the Chernivtsi trolleybus
“Dear comrades. We are Julian and Natalia, members of the «Zahist Pratsі» trade union committee at the Chernivtsi trolleybus. For many years we have fought for the rights of trolleybus workers. A few days ago, under the pretext of war, we were both illegally fired. But we will continue our fight. Many thanks to our comrades in the International Socialist League for their help to the Ukrainian workers. This is an excellent example of international worker solidarity. Together we will prevail!”
Aryabinskiy Aleksey – union leader of the “Metro CC”
“Hello, dear comrades. I would like to thank you for your help. It just arrived on time, on May 1st, which made us fully and truly feel the solidarity and really allowed us to feel this May Day, which is very difficult in times of war. So thank you very much. And we will certainly win!”
Kirill – Member of the Ukrainian Socialist League, fighter in the UVO detachment (Territorial Defense Unit)
“Good afternoon. I would like to express my gratitude to the International Socialist League for supporting the «Zahist Pratsi» trade union and our organization the Ukrainian Socialist League. The support of the workers is very important to us now. Solidarity is above all!”
Yuri and Vladimir – Members of the “Zahist Pratsi” union at the “Karpatnaftohim” petrochemical complex
“Dear friends! We are activists of the «Zahist Pratsi» Independent Union, which defends the independence of our country with arms in hand. We are sincerely grateful to our comrades and friends in the International Socialist League. This moment is extremely important to us. Your support brings us closer to victory. Long live international worker solidarity! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!”
Sergei Denisyuk – PhD, Associate Professor at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute
“Dear comrades, I would like to express my gratitude to our comrades for the invaluable material help they gave to our organization, the Ukrainian Socialist League. The Ukrainian proletariat is going through difficult times. However, I am convinced that international solidarity will help preserve us in the fight against imperialists and predators. Death to world imperialism! Long live proletarian solidarity!”
Dmitry Godik – Member of the «Zahist Pratsi» trade union committee in the «Orion» Scientific and Production Association, activist of the Ukrainian Socialist League
“I, Dmitry Godik, member of «Zahist Pratsi» in the Orion NGO, USL activist, received material help from comrades of the International Socialist League to cover the cost of rent in Western Ukraine. Long live international proletarian solidarity! Now, more than ever, workers must show solidarity and be together. Defend world peace. Long live USL! Thank you.”
Alexander Klopenko – Lawyer of the «Zahist Pratsi» union and activist of the Ukrainian Socialist League
“I, Alexander Klopenko, «Zahist Pratsi» lawyer and activist of the Ukrainian Socialist League, would like to sincerely thank the comrades of the International Socialist League for their support in this difficult moment for me and for my land, Ukraine. This kind of support is a good example of international working class solidarity, and we will never forget it. Together we will win! Long live the «Zahist Pratsi» union, the Ukrainian Socialist League and the International Socialist League!”
Natalia – Widow of our recently deceased union member, mine worker Alexander Agafonov
“Many thanks to our Argentine friends from the «Zahist Pratsi» union, of which my husband Alexander was a member. Thank you for not forgetting us and helping us”
Vyacheslav Babich – Member of «Zahist Pratsi» in Kyiv
“I am deeply grateful to our Argentine and international friends and comrades for helping those of us who live in a country at war, forced to be victims of aggression.”
Kalashnikov Vitaliy – President of the «Zahist Pratsi» trade union at the Krivoy Rog Thermal Power Plant
“I, Kalashnikov Vitaliy, president of the «Zakhist Pratsi» trade union at the Krivoy Rog thermal power plant of the Ukrainian DTEK Corporation, owned by the oligarch Rinat Akhmetov.
I thank the comrades of the International Socialist League for their support of the independent trade union movement in this difficult time for our country. Several people in our union, including myself, were illegally fired. We continue our fight in court. It is difficult for us, but we are fighting. Long live solidarity and international workers’ organizations.”
Lyudmila Degtyar – Member of the «Zahist Pratsi» trade union, director of the “Kyivpasstrans” company
“I am Lyudmila Degtyar, a member of the «Zakhist Pratsi» trade union, director of the «Kyivpasstrans» company. I came on vacation to New Kakhovka and ended up under occupation. Thanks to the comrades of the International Socialist League for your help. I’m with you. Thank you.”
Tsyhno Nicholas – “Ukrzaliznytsya” Ukrainian Railway employee and Ukrainian Socialist League activist
I am Tsyhno Nicholas, an employee at the “Ukrzaliznytsya” Ukrainian Railway and an activist of the Ukrainian Socialist League, I thank our friends of the International Socialist League for helping me during my stay away from my hometown, which I was forced to leave due to the Russian aggression. I am certain of our victory. Long live international workers’ organizations and trade union solidarity! Long live the International Socialist League and the Ukrainian Socialist League! Let’s win together!