PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” Trade Union Committees letter to Mr. Kobolev

19.09.
2016

Chairman of the Board

NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine”

Andrii KOBOLEV

Dear Mr. Kobolev!

PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” trade union council on behalf of many thousands employees appeals to you with a concern over a threating nationwide situation, which has occurred in transmission system after the issuing of Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers decree №496 01.07.2016 “On separation of natural gas transportation and storage (injection, withdrawal) activities” in shortest terms of 2016-2017, and also with actions and untruthful expressions of Iurii Vitrenko – Chief Commercial Director of “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Group”, and Sergii Konovets – deputy Head of the Board of NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” for financial-economic questions – about PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” activities.

Reforms, suggested by said NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” representatives cause collective (29 thousands of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” employees – 20 thousands of working employees and 9 thousands of pensioners) concerns about their further work, especially on the eve of heating season and reliable operation of gas transmission system as a whole. After all our activities earn USD 2 billion each year for national treasury for transit service; UAH 31 billion from sales of goods, works and services; UAH 6,5 billion as taxes.

That is why PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” is self-sufficient structure, which possesses high technical, technological and intellectual potential, and for decades provides uninterrupted natural gas supply for Ukrainian consumers and gas transit to European Union states.

The stability of gas transmission system operation is maintained in first case by traditional for decades employing of highly qualified specialist-professionals of at all levels of transmission system management, which was practically confirmed multiple times, and which you, dear Mr. Kobolev, underlined many times during your speeches.

Currently there are connections established with EU gas transmission companies, and there is an active work on the preparation of analytical materials and discussions with EU representatives in Brussels, Bratislava, Berlin, and also with Slovak gas transmission company about the establishing of reverse supply from Slovak Republic.

In these latter days certain NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” mangers are actively ignoring the norms of Company’s Charter, Collective Agreement of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” for 2016-2018 years and, most importantly, opinions on many thousands of Ukrainian gas transmission staff and national interests.

In particular, during the closed press-conference with journalists, Iurii Vitrenko – Chief Commercial Director of “Naftogaz of Ukraine” Group”, and Sergii Konovets – deputy Head of the Board of NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine” allowed themselves to express acutely, unreasonably and disrespectfully at PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ”: “We understand that Transgaz is a Soviet structure, unfortunately significantly corrupted and significantly behind the times. Next, Transgaz never did the things, that normal gas operator must do on European market. They did 1/3 of what must be done by normal operator…” That’s, considering the fact, that most of its income NJSC “Naftogaz” of Ukraine” receives from gas transit, and Mr. Vitrenko speaks of himself, that he is “banker and not a gas expert”.

PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” trade union council, represented by PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” work collective, considers these words as a personal insult and declares that Mr. Vitrenko does not correspond to his post, and requests, dear Mr. Kobolev, a personal meeting with you to to settle issues mentiones in this letter.

We inform you, that according to p. 3.12 of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” Collective Agreement for 2016-2018 years, PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” employees are obliged to maintain their duties, defined by the rules of internal working routine of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” (Addendum 19, and specifically in this case – sub point 3.2. “Main duties of employees are:… care about Company business reputation”), and PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” corporate ethics Code, in case of employees dereliction of duty according to the Collective Agreement they are subjected to disciplinary actions up to firing from a job.

Taking into account mentioned above, we ask you to consider issues mentioned in this letter, and in 10 days term organize a meeting with us with prior notification in written form.

In case of the ignoring of our request, we will leave ourselves in right to appeal to Mr. Volodymyr Dmytrysyn – Chairman of Trade Union of employees of oil and gas industry of Ukraine, Supervisory Board of NJSC “Naftogaz of Ukraine”, Mr. Stepan Kubiv – First Vice-Premier Minister of economic development and trade of Ukraine and to the management of high government authorities of Ukraine, for the protection from violation of rights of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” staff, and in terminal case – the right to conduct an industry strike.

At the same time we assure you, dear Mr. Kobolev, that many thousands of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” workers provided, provides and is ready to comntinue providing reliable and uninterrupted operation on Ukrainian gas transmission system. Honest work and professional loyalty of all PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” employees is the best guaranty of this.

On behalf of trade collective, with respect,

Chairman of Trade Union Council

Of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ”

Sergii Turchak

Members of Trade Union Council of PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ”:

PJSC “UKRTRANSGAZ” Victor Goncharov

“Kharkivtransgaz” Valeriy Rodin

“Kyivtransgaz” Yaroslav Marchuk

“Cherkasytransgaz” Oleg Omelchenko

“Prykarpattransgaz” Volodymyr Pryimak

“Ukrgazenergoservice” Pavlo Terentiev

“Ukrgaztechzviazok” Victor Khoruzhenko