The Federation of Trade Unions intends to hold a protest rally in Kyiv again on June 27 against the increase in prices for gas and electricity for the population, as well as the increase in prices for railway passenger transportation. This was reported by a representative of the Volyn regional branch of the Federation of Trade Unions, Petro Yakymenko.\n\n"We were informed at a conference call with the FTU presidium that the protest rally is planned on Independence Square, the time will be specified on the 16th," Yakymenko reported, adding that the trade unions are going to protest again against the increase in prices for gas, electricity, passenger transportation, and against the fact that the Cabinet of Ministers is not taking preventive measures for social protection of the population.\n\nYakymenko also said that due to the rise in railway ticket prices, rally participants are going to travel by bus.\n\nAccording to Yakymenko, this protest rally, according to plans, will be peaceful in nature, but if the authorities do not react in any way, the Federation of Trade Unions is ready to organize an all-Ukrainian strike.\n\nAccording to Yakymenko, Volyn trade unions intend to hold a similar rally in Lutsk on June 21.\n\nAs reported, about 10 thousand representatives of trade unions held a protest rally in Kyiv on May 24 against the increase in prices for gas and electricity for the population, as well as the increase in prices for railway passenger transportation.\n\nThe National Electricity Regulatory Commission adopted a decision to increase the price of gas and electricity for the population and the price of gas for budget organizations and heating utilities by 25% from May 1.\n\nOn May 11, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the financial plan of Ukrzaliznytsia for 2006, which provides for an increase in passenger transportation prices this year by 50% from June 1.\n\n