Why Democracy Must Include the Workplace

In the latest episode of the GoncharovaPodcast, host Tetiana Goncharova sat down with Tristan Masat, the Solidarity Center Country Program Director and Labor Initiatives Board Chair.

During the episode, Tristan highlighted the crucial role of internationalism, empathy, and cross-border solidarity, and how these values drive labor rights compliance globally, and particularly in Ukraine. He also emphasized the vital importance of democracy in the economy and the unique challenges Ukraine faces as it continues to dismantle the legacy of a decades-long authoritarian state.

“A lot talk about democracy like it`s just voting. Not if can you afford to have a decent life? Can you afford to be a participant in civil society?”, Tristan noted.

Expanding on this concept, Tristan pointed out that people spend the much of their waking lives at work. Employment is what allows individuals to afford food, housing, clothing, and their children’s education. However, when these basic needs are precarious and underfunded, workers are left with little capacity to actively participate in democratic processes.

Tristan also shared his personal reflections on the profound changes he has witnessed in Ukraine over the past decades, especially following the 2014 Maidan Revolution, and discussed the opportunities and support that international labor movements and Labor Initiatives continue to offer to Ukrainian workers and trade unions.