You're reading: Tax code protesters set up a trade union

A Ukrainian trade union of market and trade workers and entrepreneurs has been created in the wake of the protest against the adoption of the Tax Code, the press service of the National Forum of Trade Unions of Ukraine (NFTU) has reported.

According to the NFTU, the new trade union unites workers in markets and the sphere of trade, as well as entrepreneurs from 20 regions in Ukraine and the city of Kyiv. In particular, it is represented by such markets as Pryvoz (Odesa), Kolkhozny (Kirovohrad), Ozerka (Dnipropetrovsk), Rynok Dykoho (Rivne), Tsentralny (Melitopol), Barabashova (Kharkiv), Yunist and Pryvokzalny (Kyiv), etc.

An expanded congress of the trade unions is scheduled for December 10 and it is expected to adopt new regional professional branches.

The trade union aims to protect the rights of its members, as well as mobilize small businessmen at any time if the authorities do not honor their commitments. In particular, trade union members do not rule out further protests on Independence Square if amendments to the Tax Code continue to "pose a threat to the existence of small- and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine."

Volodymyr Martynenko (the coordination council of market workers of Ukraine) was elected the chairman of the new trade union. The union’s presidium also includes Olha Haisumova (coordinating council, Melitopol), Natalia Sharapova (the Starokinny market, Odesa), Olha Aleksandrova (a clothing market, Ternopil), Zhanna Danchenko (the chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk regional independent trade union of market and service workers), and Serhiy Boichenko (the Kolkhozny market, Kirovohrad).

Entrepreneurs started an indefinite protest on Independence Square in Kyiv on November 22 demanding that the president veto the Tax Code and dismiss its authors.

According to Dragon Capital investment bank, the newly passed law – certain to be signed by Yanukovych – would: