ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih considers the strike by mining employees on July 26 as illegal
Published on Wed, 26 Jul 2017
PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih respects the right of the company employees to publicly express their point of view. Management of PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih have reviewed the notification about the strike of employees of Underground Mining Department (as mines) of Mining Department planned for July 26, 2017. The company administration emphasizes that the declared strike is illegal, since during its organization the provisions of the active laws that regulate the procedure for resolving collective labor disputes were violated (in particular, article 22 of the Law of Ukraine “Regarding the procedure for resolving the collective labour disputes (conflicts)”). It should be noted that the decision to conduct the strike has not been submitted to the company address. Due to this, it is impossible to assess its compliance with the procedures stipulated by the active laws. Moreover, the reconciliation procedures have not been completed at the moment, which is the mandatory step that shall precede the decision of the employees to announce and conduct the strike.
PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih was not timely notified of the strike: only 8 days before its beginning instead of 15 days as stipulated by the laws for strikes on continuously operating plants. Stopped work at this subdivision of Mining Department, taking into account the specifics of the company activities, can lead to stoppage of production operations of the whole company. The energy imbalance of the company in this regard can lead to a full-scale man-made disaster, which in its turn poses a threat to life and health of the residents of the city and even the region.
In order to prevent adverse consequences of the unlawful decision of the persons who notified about organization of the illegal strike stated above, PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih currently uses all the legal mechanisms provided for by the laws of Ukraine to protect the interests of the company and its employees who can be misled by the persons intending to conduct the illegal activity.
PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih continues to act in a lawful manner, without violation of the work norms for its employees and requirements of the labour laws of Ukraine. The position of PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih administration is grounded with the fact that despite the difficult economic situation in steel industry and country, the company always performed and continues to perform its commitments to its employees, local community and the state in good faith. It constantly pays taxes to local and state budgets, invests in Health and Safety, increases the salary level. PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih continues to work towards changing the remuneration system and introducing the new grade system aimed to consider the interests of all company employees in a fair manner. Since May 1, 2017, the salary was increased by up to 70 %. Currently, the average salary at PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih amounts to UAH 11 128. Our company is the second in Ukraine after Zaporizhstal Steel Company by the salary level. Moreover, only during this year ArcelorMittal has allocated UAH 353.5 mln for social development of its labour collective, UAH 168 mln – for the employees health improvement, UAH 317 mln – for Health and Safety, as the occupational safety and health of people are the key priorities of the company.
PJSC ArcelorMittal Kryvyi Rih confirms its intention to continue fulfilling all commitments to its employees, as well as to continue the open and constructive dialogue with trade unions. The company requests all its employees and any persons representing the labour collective to refrain from organizing the illegal campaigns and from participating in such activities.
Source : Strategic Research Institute