Dear metallurgists of Ukraine!

Please accept my sincere greetings on occasion of your professional holiday!

Today you will listen to thousands of thankful words for selfless and hard work which strengthens our state and helps Ukraine to occupy one of the leading places in the world in metallurgical production branch.

These kind words are fully deserved, because metallurgy being the leading industry of Ukrainian economy forms state budget, provides support and development of social sphere. That is why in your labor includes care about a pensioner and a teacher, a serviceman and an official, a doctor and a student.

I know well, how difficult the profession of metallurgist is. The first place of my work is engineer – economist at Dniprovsky machine-building plant. The enterprise received products from metallurgical complex, and I remember how respected and honored your labor was.

Metallurgists have always been, are and will be personification of dignity of the working man.

But at the same time, I wish the hard and honored work of metallurgist were deservingly rewarded. When the proprietors of Ukrainian enterprises are selling metal at world prices, you, dear metallurgists, receive pennies. Today salary of Ukrainian metallurgist is almost three times less than remuneration of the Russian or Polish metallurgist, and almost nine times lower than remuneration of the German metallurgist.

I am sure that our country will not be free and happy until Ukrainian workers receive the deserved reward for their work, until the elite of working class is treated with respect by the state, proprietors of metallurgical enterprises and mines. We know what to fight and strive for.

I am proud of you, of your work, dear metallurgists. Our political force will do its best to make the profession of Ukrainian metallurgist one of the most prestigious in Ukraine. Ukrainian metallurgist who as his Polish, German and Russian colleagues stands near the open-hearth furnace will receive deserved salary for his extremely necessary work.

On the day of your professional holiday from all my heart I wish you stable development of your enterprises, confidence in future, strong health and wealth to your families!

Happiness and peace to you!

Yulia Tymoshenko