Training for Critical Infrastructure Workers

On December 24, the Solidarity Center in Ukraine supported the training of 25 leaders of the actively developed All-Ukrainian Free Trade Union of Humanitarian Demining Operations Staff (affiliated with the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine, KVPU).

The All-Ukrainian Free Trade Union of Humanitarian Demining Operations Staff was formed in July 2024 and officially registered in September 2024. It has already organized its members in about 20 offices of foreign and Ukrainian service providers, with a total of over 600 deminers. The union’s efforts have already yielded their first results—supporting a submission to the Ministry of Economy, that led to the National Qualification Agency approving the professional standard “Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operator (Deminer)” in August 2024. The union advocated for this standard as a professional standard that meets international requirements, creates unified rules for everyone, and significantly expands the opportunities for deminers’ vocational training.

The December 24 training was significant for the union since the workers do not have a union background or experience with collective bargaining in the sector previously. Therefore, knowledge of organizing ABCs, the legal basis of union functioning, and communication fundamentals for recruiting more members was valuable for the participants. Additionally, the leaders brainstormed the plans for growth, advocacy, and the union’s increased visibility for 2025.