Lukashenka Wants Get Back On “Shameful” List?

IndustriAll Global Union supported the protest of Belarusian workers.

The IndustriAll Global Union Leader Valter Sanches spoke in support of Salihorsk installers.

In his letter, he called on Lukashenka “not to spoil the image of Belarus” and reminded him of the “shameful” list.

Valter Sanches is asking the Belarusian authorities to register the Belarusian Independent Trade Union's primary trade union organization of workers of the unitary construction enterprise Trest Remmontazhstroy, belnp.org website informs.

“On behalf of the IndustriALL Global Union, representing more than 50 million workers in 140 countries around the world, I express outrage at the decision of the Salihorsk district executive committee, which on October 22, 2018 again denied to register the organizational structure of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union, which is an IndustriALL affiliate,” – the letter says.

IndustriAll's general secretary considers this refusal had “far-fetched” excuse, since the official response does not contain full argumentation. The real reason, according to the international organization, is the unwillingness to register the branch of the Independent Trade Union.

“Such actions not only spoil the image of Belarus, but also violate the country's internal legislation, including the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, as well as international regulations. In particular, the International Labor Organization Convention No. 87 “Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention” ratified by your country. Belarus has previously been included in the shameful “short” list of countries where violations of workers' rights were the most severe. We hope that your country does not have intention to get back on that list? ” – the letter says.

Addressing Lukashenka, Valter Sanches, on behalf of members of the organization, demands to provide assistance in registration of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union's primary trade union organization of workers of the unitary construction enterprise Trest Remmontazhstroy, and stop discrimination against Belarusian citizens on the basis of trade union membership.

The General Secretary of the trade union association also appealed to the chairman of the Salihorsk district executive committee, Aleh Paskrobka.

We remind, that about 400 employees of the construction and installation company have not been able to register their organization with local authorities since May of this year. The employees have already been denied registration twice. The Belarusian Independent Trade Union filed a lawsuit against the actions of local officials in the Salihorsk district court. On November 13, trade union activists and Belarusian workers supporting them came out to protest in Salihorsk.