• Index Seminar Reports  • Introduction  • Baltic Region  • Central Europe  • South-East Europe  • Ukraine and Russia • Participants • Seminar proceedings • Survey results • Identifying priority OSHE issues • Formulating trade union policy on priority issues • Developing a strategy for action • Conclusions  Survey Reports  • Regional Summary  • Bulgaria  • Czech Republic  • Estonia  • Hungary  • Lithuania  • Russia  • Slovakia  • Ukraine  • Data

Sub-Regional OSHE Experts Seminar for Trade Unions in Ukraine and Russia

 4 - 6 JULY 2000, KIEV, UKRAINE

Participants

This seminar grouped 33 participants from trade unions in Ukraine and the Russian Federation (see list at the end of this seminar report). Most of the participants were technical experts on local or regional trade union committees, or trade union technical inspectors, representing such diverse sectors as agro-industry, textiles, mining, oil and gas, transport, machine building, pharmaceuticals… One person had participated in the questionnaire survey. Of the participants, nine were women, with a high proportion of them representing the Ukrainian Central Committee of AgroIndustrial Workers’ Unions (AIWU). Resource persons were: Annie Rice from the ILO’s Multidisciplinary Advisory Team for Central and Eastern Europe; Irina Melekh and Frank Hoffer, both from the ILO’s Multidisciplinary Advisory Team for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Seminar proceedings

The seminar was opened by Mr. Valentin Pojidaev, First Deputy Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine. Mr Pojidaev outlined the acutely painful situation in Ukraine regarding occupational safety and health, which, with the changes in working relations, is more acute now during transition than it was before. Trade unions are no longer in a position to provide public control over safety and health at work. It is hoped that the questionnaire survey will act as motivation for unions to influence conditions at the workplace.

Annie Rice gave an overview of the survey results as they applied to both Ukraine and the Russian Federation.

Identifying priority OSHE issues

The aims of this exercise were:

• to help identify different issues concerning OSHE

• to help think about local concerns of union members

• to help think about priorities for the union.

Using the survey results as a guide, the participants were asked to come up with a list of concerns they thought might affect their members and to put some kind of priority on these concerns. Four groups were each given a specific area to consider - safety, health, organisational or work-related environmental problems. It was pointed out that some of the conclusions from the survey may not be relevant to some participants’ particular national or local situation, but it would be interesting to compare their views with the results from the shop floor.

Key findings from group work and discussions show that:

1. Concerning safety, major problems include:

• Pressure on keeping accident insurance premiums for compensation as low as possible. The result is that there is a reluctance to reveal the true extent of injuries and work-related diseases at enterprise level, and the reported accident numbers should be at least 30% higher. Coverup and under-reporting means that a proper analysis of the conditions leading up to accidents and diseases is problematic. Legislation is needed on disclosure of information concerning working conditions.

• Insufficient OSH training, both for workers and for labour inspectors. While the trade unions run courses these are not adequate for needs. It was felt that trade unions rather than employers should take the lead in organising training. Training needs to be adapted to different sectors, occupations and situations.

• Obsolete machinery and depreciation of work equipment, although accidents are also due to work organisation and observance of production deadlines rather than safe working methods.

• Lack of personal protective equipment provided by the employer. For example, it is estimated that only 65% of miners are provided with PPE in Ukraine.

Concerning occupational health, major issues include:

• Attestation of workplaces, which should be routine but is often neglected. The state sanitary control needs to be strengthened and to follow up on findings. Attestation needs to build on the ILO survey and approaches to prevention. As attestation determines pension benefits, it needs to be carried out adequately, if not then individual workers will not get compensation. However, it was acknowledged that workers get used to benefits, which does not encourage them to think of resolving osh issues in other ways.

• Periodic medical checkups, and the need to conduct these as preventive measures against disability and disease, through independent occupational health and safety medical services. Medical services should be extended to all workers, including those, who for various reasons, have little or no access to them: night shift workers, those who have left employment, and workers in small and medium-sized enterprises. Regular medical examinations should be available on a regional basis.

• Restoration of the work of medical-engineering teams at the workplace. There used to be doctors and/or hygienists in individual enterprises who could identify problems and effective solutions. Now, management is cutting down on personnel, including health professionals. Without the medical and engineering expertise to analyse workplace conditions and pronounce on occupational diseases, management often resorts to firing workers if they become ill.

• Sanitary and eating facilities, which are often non-existent at the workplace.

• Rehabilitation, in the form of sanatoria and health resort facilities, was one of the benefits of the former era but which has now been deleted from the budget of many companies. Workers can now obtain sanatorium vouchers only after prolonged illness.

Concerning organisational issues, priorities include:

• Instituting a system of management of occupational safety and health at the workplace. Internal instructions on the observance of osh rules should be available at all levels, from management to workers.

• Basic training requirements are needed, especially introductory courses for new workers, and regular refresher courses after that.

• Involving all players in administrative and public control of hazards, including management, team leaders at production level, supervisors, state labour inspection, workers…

• Coordination with local authorities for joint work plans, engineering and medical teams for emergency assistance.

• Concerning work-related environmental issues, problems highlighted included:

• Use of natural resources. Ukraine, for example, is rich in resources, but these have to be managed in a more rational and efficient manner. Where possible, their use should be certified

• Pollution, mainly noise and dust pollution in air, and solid and liquid wastes in soil and water.

The aims of this session were to:

• help develop a union policy on identified OSHE issues

• help think about what action is needed to realistically carry out the policy.

This was basically an exercise in thinking through what action needs to be carried out by the union in response to a particular priority issue (identified through the previous session of the seminar), and how and when that action should be carried out. The aim was not to come up with a fully-developed union policy, but rather guidelines on how to look at problems and the means of tackling them over the longer-term. The participants were divided into small groups according to level of activity: two central level groups, one regional level, one enterprise level, and an agricultural, group. Using the activity sheet on "Formulation of a trade union policy on priority issues", each group was asked to consider one issue of concern from previous discussions. A summary of key findings follows:

1. Under-reporting of accidents is widespread in enterprises and will take action on a number of fronts to remedy. First of all, new workers have to be educated regarding their legal rights and responsibilities in case of accident or work-related disease, including their rights to compensation. Secondly, trade union experts in social insurance should be trained in the relevant legal provisions. Thirdly, trade union representatives of health and safety committees should be trained in investigation and registration of accidents at the workplace. This could include accidents of a non-occupational nature, e.g. commuting accidents and injuries in the community, but clarification on definitions would be needed before developing procedures for this.

All occupational accidents should be reported on a daily basis to the internal osh committee and reports given to the leaders of each accident case investigation. Interaction with the medical establishments and other organisations involved should be streamlined and coordinated. Any occupational accident that has been covered up or not reported should be discussed at trade union committee meetings with the aim of making answerable those responsible under law. Collective agreements should include provisions on the inadmissibility of managers concealing accidents at the workplace, with annual or half-yearly reports on the results. An awareness-raising campaign using leaflets and flyers should highlight accidents and their consequences for victims and their family members

2. Organisation and training for union control over safety issues is becoming problematic with the changes from total trade union control (public control) to government-controlled occupational safety and health, and the lack of motivation and knowledge of good union representatives to take on the task. Upgrading the existing regional, municipal and enterprise level public institutions (union osh committees and representatives) needs to be done. Selection of skilled personnel is a priority and training of these can be carried out on a regional basis. Motivation in the form of competitions and awards could b considered for union inspectors. A proper legislative base is also needed on labour protection and the rights and responsibilities of union inspectors for them to be able to function efficiently. Likewise, collective agreements must be negotiated to provide for union representatives to have the time to perform their duties with no loss of pay. The collective agreement should also specify the relationships between the different bodies involved, e.g. union representatives and the occupational health services.

Concerning the issue of union participation (public control) in osh inspection, Mr. Fedorov of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia, gave an overview of the situation in the Russian Federation, which has much in common with that in the Ukraine. Organisation of union osh representatives is provided for under legislation, the latest version of which dates from June 1999. This was based on ILO Convention 155 concerning Occupational safety and Health (1981) and provides for cooperation between worker representatives and employers in areas of osh; the right to receive information from the employer; the right to training on osh issues, financed from a central fund; etc. According to Ministry of Labour Regulations, the representative is entitled to two hours per week for his or her trade union osh duties, paid for from enterprise funds.

Collective agreements go further in that they include social guarantees for the rights of representatives - these cannot be fired, transferred or otherwise subject to disciplinary measures as a result of carrying out their osh duties, without the knowledge and agreement of the union; after their term as osh representative expires they have the right to return to their former or similar job with a guaranteed average salary; and they have the right to financial and moral benefits from the trade union.

Currently there are 160,000 worker representatives dealing with osh issues in the Russian Federation, and the union provides annual upgrading of skills for 87. Osh reps draft schedules for control at the workplace on a daily basis on which supervisors have to come to decisions for improvement of outstanding health and safety improvements. Well thought out improvements, which lead to a lowering of accident statistics for example, may lead to cash benefits for the representative (usually a monthly bonus of 200 - 250 roubles, about $10).

The impact of agricultural chemicals is a diverse issue affecting both worker health and safety and the environment, and which has to be tackled from different angles. The Ukraine used to be the bread basket of Russia and the Soviet states, and agriculture continues to account for about 12% of GDP in Ukraine. Misuse of agricultural chemicals in the form of pesticides and fertilisers have built up in the soil and have caused health effects in women and birth defects in children. At the same time as raising soil fertility, measures have to be taken to look at other methods than over-reliance on chemicals, and to treat the already damaged soil. The present restructuring of the agricultural sector from big collective operations to smaller farms means that integrated pest management is more viable now and will reduce the impact of chemicals. The agricultural unions in Ukraine have good experience to share of alternative methods of pest management, recommended by the Agricultural Chemistry Laboratory and plant protection stations. These include: crop rotation, mechanisation of the soil with minimal use of chemicals before sowing and post-harvest, the use of hybrid seeds which need less treatment, using natural predators to combat different pests (Ukraine has a problem with Colorado beetle, which is kept in check by such birds as quail, duck and wood-grouse), inter-row cultivation of crops and vegetables, use of organic fertilisers and bio-pesticides. Trade unions have a role to play in educating and training workers in good techniques, especially concerning the safe use of chemicals. They can also promote information and awareness-raising of the impact of chemicals on health and environment and its links to trade union work.

Lack of funding for training of union osh activistss. Unions are actively involved in training of their osh representatives, but finances are tight so that funding has to be found elsewhere. Priorities for possible funding include participation in the legislative process to submit proposals for employers’ obligations concerning osh training (close cooperation with legislative bodies will be needed at the drafting stage of Acts and Regulations), collective bargaining on osh (clauses to cover employer financing of osh training for union representatives), and cooperation with international organisations (funding for training, agreements for joint studies - contacts are very important). Each form of training should include theoretical expertise as well as practical aspects.

Lack of provision and/or non-use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is a major problem at just about all enterprises where it is considered necessary, leading to injuries or more serious injuries than if it had not been used. (See also the survey results for the Russian Federation and Ukraine, in which it was estimated by worker representatives on the shop floor that PPE was provided in about 90% and 65% of workplaces, respectively, and used in about 90% of the cases where it was provided). A particular piece of legislation in the Russian Federation states that each worker must conform to established procedures and responsible administration, which is a barrier to any long-term union activity in this area. In addition, workforce turnover means that any violations concerning provision and wearing of PPE are more difficult to correct and improve the situation. Nonetheless, union strategy at enterprise level would be to: firstly, identify those activities where PPE is needed; secondly, to compose written requests for the equipment, indicating standards, quantities and sizes; and thirdly, to control their use through rules for using and storing PPE, inspection of PPE to check it meets standards, training of workers in using PPE, register of workers and use of PPE in identified activities, periodic checks for damage, etc.

The aims of this session were:

• to think about how to implement an action plan at the local level on priority issues

• to analyse the steps and possible obstacles in detail.

This exercise was about being prepared and thinking through any possible obstacles, that may arise, for there will almost certainly be problems in setting up any action plan - lack of resources, already overworked experts and local representatives, management and even governments may not like some proposals for study or improvement, etc. Using the activity sheet "Planning a strategy for action", five different groups came up with the following key findings:

The results of the survey were very much appreciated. They describe the problems from a new standpoint and promise to be extremely useful to the unions’ work. The unions will ensure that the results are made known to a large audience through their publications. It was also helpful to have a comparison of the results and working conditions between Ukraine and Russia. In this way, the seminar reinforced knowledge of the issues through comparisons between the two countries and allowed an overview of different approaches to problems. The information obtained and exchange of views between different levels of union activists and between sectors also had an impact on how participants viewed their own activities.

The design and logical progression of the workshop was appreciated, which gave the participants the tools for thinking through oshe problems and solutions. The participants were especially appreciative of the participatory methods of training, and looked forward to using them in their own training sessions. The active involvement of all in small group work and collective decisions and presentations appealed to most of the participants, even though from differing sectors and activities (although it was thought that it might have been better to group people according to region or sector). Above all, there was a commitment from the participants to implement the new approaches and methods of work to develop their own objectives and practical action plans.

• Ukraine

  • Federation of the Trade Unions of Ukraine (FTUU)

    • Vodzinsky, Mikhail Alexeevitch Chief technical labour inspector, Trade Unions of Oil and Gas Industry Workers

    • Goretsky, Vladimir Ivanovich Head of Occupational Safety and Health and Environmental Protection Department, Chief technical labour inspector of FTUU

    • Guiva, Boris Alexandrovich Chief technical labour inspector, Regional Trade Unions Council of Zaporozhie

    • Lutsishin, Iosif Vasilievich Chief technical labour inspector, Trade Unions Council of Lvov region

    • Myslyuk, Anatoly Prokofievich Chief technical labour inspector, Trade Union Federation Council of Kirovograd region

    • Rusetsky, Vikenty Ivanovich Head of Labour Protection, Ecology and Health Department, Trade Union Federation Council, Zhitomir region

    • Chirva, Yuri Anisimovich Academy of Labour and Social Relations, FTUU

    • Shitt, Anatoly Vasilievich Chief technical labour inspector, Trade Unions Council of Zakarpatie

  • Ukrainian Central Committee of AgroIndustrial Workers’ Unions (UCC AIWU)

    • Boiko, Lidiya Pavlovna Chairperson of Kyiv Regional AIWU

    • Gura, Leonid Alexandrovich Doctor Attorney, UCC AIWU

    • Zubov, Evgeni Pavlovich Chairman of trade union committee, engineer on occupational safety of ZAO Plodovoschprom, Leningradsky district, Kyiv

    • Milenkaya, Lidia Stepanovna Doctor Attorney, Kyiv regional AIWU

    • Ovcharova, Valentina Petrovna Deputy Chairperson, technical inspector of the regional Food-Industrial Workers’ Union, Ivano-Frankovsk

    • Titareva, Galina Vladimirovna Chairperson of the regional AIWU, Brovarsk; Chairperson regional osh committee, Kyiv region

    • Malyshkiv, Grigori Vladimirovich Technical inspector of the Regional Council of the UCC-AIWU

    • Efimenko, Olga Ilyinichna Chairperson of the UCC of the Light and Textile Industries Workers’ Union

    • Bashkireva, Galina Nikolaevna Deputy Chairperson of the UCC of the Light and Textile Industries Workers’ Union

  • Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of the Ukraine

    • Semenko, Sergei Stepanovich Chief technical inspector, Independent Trade Union of Miners

• Russian Federation

  • Federation of Independent Trade Unions Of Russia

    • Andreeva, Marina Pavlovna Commissioner on OSH issues of the trade union committee, Yaroslavl

    • Putin, Ivan Yakovlevich Commissioner on OSH issues of the trade union committee, Perm

    • Fedorov, Igor Anatolievich Commissioner on OSH issues of the trade union committee, Moscow

    • Grinnik, Marina Alexeevna Commissioner on OSH issues of Murmansk regional trade unions committee

    • Razantsev, Alexander Ivanovich Commissioner on OSH issues of the trade union committee, Omsk

  • All-Russia Confederation of Labour (ARCL)

    • Skorodelov, Sergei Alexandrovich First Deputy General Inspector, Inter-Industrial Inspection of Labour of ARCL

    • Razina, Svetlana Grigorievna Chairperson of the Trade Union Workers of "Moscow Metropoliten"

• Resource persons

  • Annie Rice, ILO-CEET, Budapest

  • Frank Hoffer, ILO-Moscow

  • Irina Melekh, ILO-Moscow
  • Vassil Kostrytsya, ILO Correspondent, Ukraine

[ Index | Introduction |  Baltic Region | Central Europe | South-East Europe | Ukraine and Russia ]
[ Participants | Seminar proceedings | Survey results | Identifying priority OSHE issues | Formulating trade union policy on priority issues | Developing a strategy for action | Conclusions ]