More than 20 trade union leaders have called on the government to take urgent action to support Ukrainian workers imprisoned at a nuclear plant occupied by Russian forces.
An estimated 1,000 workers have been subjected to abuse and torture at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, with only 3,000 of the plant’s original 11,000 workers remaining at the site.
The statement reads:
We call on the UK Government to take urgent action in support of Ukrainian workers at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), who are being abused and detained by the Russian occupation authorities. Since the seizure of the plant, civilian staff have faced intimidation and violence aimed at forcing them to accept Russian citizenship and sign contracts with Russia’s State Corporation for Atomic Energy, Rosatom.
An estimated 1,000 workers have been subjected to abuse and torture, and only 3,000 of the original 11,000 employees remain. Their treatment — and the drastic reduction in staffing — has placed the safety of Europe’s largest nuclear power station at grave risk.
Fifteen members and representatives of the Nuclear Energy and Industry Workers’ Union of Ukraine (AtomProfSpilka) have been abducted, tortured and subjected to show trials on fabricated charges, receiving prison sentences of up to 25 years. We call for the immediate release of all the detained (ZNPP) trade union members and full sanction on Rosatom.
Signed:
- Chris Kitchen, NUM
- Gary Smith, GMB
- Sharon Graham, Unite
- Andrea Egan UNISON
- Dave Calfe, ASLEF
- Fran Heathcote PCS
- Jo Grady, UCU
- Dave Ward, CWU
- Naomi Pohl, Musicians Union
- Daniel Kebede, NEU
- Mike Clancy, Prospect
- Steve Gillan, POA
- Joanne Thomas, USDAW
- Sarah Woolley, BFAWU
- Roy Rickhuss, Community
- Jim Leonard, Advance
- Brian McDaid, AEGIS
- Ged Nichols, Accord
- Michael Schwaabe, AFA-CWA
- Ellie Peers, WGGB
- Julia Georgiou, NHBC
- Paul Fleming, Equity
This comes as many UK trade unions have expressed support for a motion by the National Union of Mineworkers, set to be presented at the TUC Congress, calling for the trade union movement to show solidarity with the imprisoned workers and campaign for their release.
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Daniel Green
Daniel Green is a senior reporter at LabourList.
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