Ukranian trade unionist reinstated; a victory for international labour

On 12 December 2007 Vladimir Demyan, a trade union leader and the chairperson of Protection of Labour [Zahist Pracy] a Kyiv independent union, technician for electrical installations at the Commercial Centre 16 of METRO Cash & Carry Ukraine (part of the METRO Group multinational holding company headquartered in Dusseldorf, Germany) was unlawfully dismissed in Kyiv.

Following a campaign by workers locally, and international pressure through the UNI global union, Mr Demyan was yesterday guaranteed his job back. The local union, Zahist Pracy, will be able to organise unhindered by such union-busting efforts by management.

The trade unionist in Kyiv are understandably very pleased:

Signing of the protocol of negotiations beetween management of “Metro Group” and global trade-union network UNI, according to which “Metro Cash & Carry-Ukraine” reinstates in office Volodymyr Demyan became the ending of an extremely significant episode in fighting for observance of legal norms of labour legislation on the teritorry of ex-USSR countries. Within the next few days activity of our independent trade-union will be restored on the enterprise “Metro Cash & Carry-Ukraine” and we are going to resume the negotiations in order to sign a collective contract.

Solidarity works. Here endeth the lesson.

Oh, except, what's the global trade union for public sector workers doing about this? Or this?