A look back at the testimony that Yuri Samoilov, from the Independent Miners'
Union, came to France and elsewhere on the current situation in Ukraine. ---- Assoon as the war broke out in Ukraine, unions in several countries decided thatthe priority was the direct link with the workers there. This is how theInternational Trade Union Network for Solidarity and Struggle[1]organized twoconvoys to Ukraine, to bring material and financial support, and also to meet,listen, discuss with comrades, learn about their needs and try to answer it[2].In November 2022, a student trade unionist from Lviv was in France. InFebruary/March 2023, a new milestone was reached : Yuri Samoilov testified live,in Warsaw, Paris, Lyon, Madrid, Lisbon, Padova, Milan and Katowice.A miner in Kryvyi Rih, Yuri Samoilov leads the independent miners' union and theregional interprofessional sector of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions ofUkraine (KVPU). During the European tour, he participated in several meetings inLyon, at the meeting of the French committee of the European Solidarity Networkwith Ukraine[3], on February 23 at the Paris Labor Exchange, at a more restrictedmeeting in the premises of the Union Syndicale Solidaires. What can we learn fromthe message from our comrades in Ukraine, transmitted by Yuri ?More than 300 members of the Kryvyi Rih miners' union have joined the TerritorialDefense[4] : "The union members call us from the front and tell us what theyneed. They tell us specific things. We know that if we don't get them, such asoldier may even die.» War does not only kill on the front: «Russian missilesfall on towns and workplaces. People are literally killed while working. On thearms needs of the Ukrainian popular resistance : "I know the state of mind of themembers of my union who are fighting. They say yes, we are getting weapons, butwe are still getting too few. Why did we have to withdraw from Soledar ? Becauseour soldiers had nothing left to shoot. They give us a tank. But along with thetank we should also have support units. And we didn't have that. Members of ourunion serve in self-propelled artillery units. Ammunition is delivered to them inordinary civilian vehicles.»During the war, the class struggle continued: "Our union has 2,400 members. Thereare about 300 trade unionists in the army. More or less two battalions of peoplewho kill, who know how to kill. When the war is over and these people return towork, every employer must remember that they can kill. "How to go on strike ?Simple methods are the best. "When discussions with the employer representativebegin, they take place practically in front of everyone. "Our society is more andmore clearly, sharply divided into a privileged caste and a working caste.»Yuri also told us about the first strike he led, in 1985 : the self-managementdemocracy of Solidarnosc was his reference. He also explained the anti-workerlaws of the Ukrainian government and how employers took advantage of the war toimpose social setbacks hitherto repelled by trade union action. It is difficultto summarize a message as political as it is deeply human, as combative as it islucid.Christian (UCL Suburb South-East)To validate[1]See on Laboursolidarity.org.[2]Read about it Ukraine. Trade union solidarity in time of war, Syllepseeditions, 2022.[3]This network organized demonstrations, meetings, information campaigns, andpublished a brochure.[4]See Enguerran Carrier's video "Arms on the Left: Revolutionaries in War" onYoutube.com.https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Ukraine-Temoignage-d-un-syndicaliste-en-temps-de-guerre_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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