On September 16, 2008 the so-called Assembly of the National Confederation of Trade Unions of Ukraine met in Kiev with some dozens participants claiming to represent all trade unions of Ukraine. The event was presented through the mass media as a national important one.

   The meeting added nothing new to the previously declared position of a few organizers. Once again alleged accusations of monopolization of the trade union movement by the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine, inefficiency of the existing social dialogue were heard.

   However the participants said nothing about issues that really worry working people -trade unions' struggle for decent wages and labour safety, against overexploitation of workers. The real aim of the organizers was quite different – once again to throw mud at the FPU and make an attempt to benefit from its property. This theme at once was supported by some politicians.

   The Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine as the largest trade union association in the country keeps a constructive position and cooperates with all trade unions and trade union associations that share the objective of protection of legal rights and interests of workers. We have a joint representation at the National Trilateral Socio-Economic Council, Joint Representative Body of Trade Unions, governing bodies of the social insurance funds. Our joint efforts allowed us to conclude with the Government and employers the General Agreement for 2008-2009 which indeed provides higher social guarantees for the working people.

   Of course there are some problems in the trade union movement in Ukraine and there is a lot of to do in order to ensure decent working conditions and living standards for all workers. But the FPU is not afraid of the challenges of nowadays. The FPU Congress in December 2008 will adopt new programme documents focusing on protection of workers' rights and interests. Therefore, any attempts to discredit the FPU activity are nothing than attempts of ‘yellow' trade unions, deliberately established to serve political forces, to please those who would like to remove the largest trade union association from the battlefield for workers' rights.

   Such actions are inadmissible now when the trade unions all over the world are preparing for collective actions within the framework of the World Day for Decent Work on October 7.

   Unfortunately, the organizers of the Assembly neither found time for this issue extremely important for the international trade union movement.