Speech by KEVIN CALLINAN, President, Irish Congress of Trade Unions
I’m the elected president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, and the general secretary of Fórsa. It is my deep honour to be standing here among trade unionists and progressives, in solidarity with Ambassador Larysa Gerasko and other representatives of the Ukrainian community in Ireland.
I want to start by thanking all of you for your time this afternoon, and for joining this expression of solidarity with the children, women and men of Kyiv, of Mariupol, of Sumi, of Khersson, of Odessa, and of all Ukraine.
It is one month today since Russian forces rolled into Ukraine, kicking off an illegal invasion and a horrific war that has united the people of Ukraine, the people of Ireland, and all the peoples of Europe, in a determination to say ‘no’ to aggression, and to resist attacks on our democracies and threats to our self-determination and sovereignty.
For, as President Volodymyr Zelentskiy has repeatedly said, the attack on Ukraine is an attack on democracy across Europe. An attack on all of us.
This is a concept we fully understand and endorse as trade unionists. For us, an injury to one is always an injury to all. The peoples of Ireland and all Europe have been inspired by the principled and courageous resistance of the Ukrainian people, and by your determination to get Russia out of your country. We support peace. But it must be a just peace, built on respect for democracy, self-determination, and humanity.That’s why Congress is clear that Russian troops are unwelcome in Ukraine, and they must clear out.
And our solidarity amounts to more than just words of concern, sympathy, and admiration for the strength and conduct of your struggle.
That’s why we have added our voices to calls for strong and united European and global action against Russia for as long as this illegal invasion continues.
Our solidarity is also practical in nature. Last week, Congress launched an initiative to encourage workers in Ireland to donate one hour’s worth of their pay to humanitarian support for Ukraine – and for employers to match this.
Yesterday my own organisation, Fórsa, announced that we have raised half-a-million Euro from union members, activists, and branches – money that is going to the Irish Red Cross and the International Trade Union Confederation solidarity fund to support humanitarian efforts on the ground.
I’m sure that the ICTU initiative will be greeted with the same tremendous response we saw from Fórsa members which, in turn, echoes the deep feelings of support for the Ukrainian people coming from all walks of Irish society.
It’s humbling to see such a magnificent display of solidarity from ordinary working people as we remember those who have died, those who are grieving, and those who have lost everything because of this terrible war.
This is also reflected in the determination of the public servants, airport workers, port staff and others, who are pulling out the stops to help and welcome refugees from the war – and also in the magnificent public response to the call to welcome and house them here in Ireland.
I hope and believe that this response can be a model for Ireland’s future treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers, regardless of what country or continent they set out from before they reach our shores.
Over the last few weeks, many comparisons have been made between the present conflict and the second world war.
All I will say is this: Let’s be sure that, because of our actions in the coming weeks and months, we’ll be able to look back at this crisis in future years and say that our response proudly reflected our values. Values of solidarity, democracy, unity, and self-determination.
• Because we showed solidarity with Ukraine and its people.
• Because we stood for a just peace, and worked to stop the war and bring an end to the horrific violence being inflicted on the people of Ukraine.
• Because we showed solidarity with all workers and communities impacted by Putin’s illegal action including those in Russia itself.
• And because we welcomed and supported the refugees, forced to come to us in their hour of dire need.
