Ukraine Solidarity Campaign
The Ukraine Solidarity Campaign (USC) is a political organisation in Great Britain which works to build solidarity with socialists and trade unionists in Ukraine. Founded in 2014 in the aftermath of the Maidan Revolution, it grew significantly following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, organising material support for Ukrainian trade unionists on the frontline.[1][2]
History[edit]
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USC was founded in 2014 during the Euromaidan movement to campaign in defence of Ukraine's right to self-determination against Russian imperialism in the British trade union movement and wider left. Its founding meeting in London was supported by Labour MP John McDonnell and Ukrainian diaspora socialists including Marko Bojcun and Labour MS Mick Antoniw.[3]
Following the Russian invasion in 2022, USC worked with British and Ukrainian unions to organise solidarity demonstrations[4] and raise funds for Ukrainian workers on the frontline. In contrast to some other organisations on the left, USC explicitly called on the UK and other western governments to arm Ukraine. USC has been credited by officials of Ukrainian left organisation Sotsialnyi Rukh for having "pushed many British trade unions from pacifist or pro-Russian to pro-Ukrainian positions".[5]
USC Scotland was established in 2022 and later formally constituted as a sister organisation to USC.[6]
In October 2022, USC and Resistance Books, a publisher linked to Socialist Resistance, co-published Ukraine: Voices of Resistance and Solidarity, a collection of essays on the war by Ukrainians and socialists around the world.
Supporters[edit]
Trade unions affiliated to USC include ASLEF,[7] PCS and the NUM at a national level, branches of Unite and the NEU, and various trades councils.[8] Demonstrations organised by USC have also been addressed by members of the CWU, UCU, BFAWU and TSSA.[9]
Socialist organisations affiliated to USC include Chartist, Anticapitalist Resistance, the Alliance for Workers' Liberty, The Real Democracy Movement, the Republican Socialist Platform, the International Marxist-Humanist Organization and Independent Socialists in Wellingborough.[8]
Elected politicians associated with USC include Labour MPs John McDonnell,[10] Nadia Whittome, Clive Lewis, Rachael Maskell, Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Ian Lavery, MS Mick Antoniw[11] and MSP Paul Sweeney.[12]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Labour Movement Aid Delivered to Ukrainian Resistance". 22 December 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "Support Ukrainian workers at the front!". Ukraine Solidarity Campaign. 7 March 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "International solidarity. How foreign leftists are helping Ukraine in the war". Commons. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ "The labour movement must stand by Ukraine: join our historic demonstration". LabourList. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ "Ukrainian workers fight on the front – and suffer from lack of political power". Cross-Border Talks. 28 October 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ Colin Turbett (September 2023). "Ukraine's popular resistance". Scottish Left Review. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ "Train drivers' union boss hits out over criticism of strike on eve of Eurovision". Evening Standard. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "About". Ukraine Solidarity Campaign. 9 September 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "Trade unions will stage a protest march and rally in Whitehall in solidarity with Ukraine". Morning Star. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "The Ukrainian Question for Socialists". 21 February 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
- ↑ "Welsh unions are supporting Ukrainian workers. We need more of this solidarity". openDemocracy. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
- ↑ "Letter calling for arms to Ukraine is dangerous, say peace campaigners". Morning Star. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
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