The Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers’ Union (REWU) believes that attempts being made by the European Union, aimed at establishing relations with the Belarusian authorities are premature because as before trade union and workers’ rights are violated in the country. This statement was made by the REWU Council. The document was sent to the International Metalworkers Federation (IMF) requesting to make position of independent trade union available to governments of those European countries, where IMF membership organizations are functioning.

The statement says that in the course of the past period, including 2008 - 2009, the Government “did practically nothing to eliminate violations of workers’ rights and to implement Conventions 87 and 98”.

As a proof of latest evidences of violations of trade union rights for freedom of association and the right to organize are provided. So, in 2009 three REWU primary trade union organizations were refused registration in Gomel, Vitebsk and Mogilev. Trade union was not allowed to hold any of fifteen pickets applied for. Workers, as before, are persecuted and dismissed for trade union membership.

The statement expressed concern that “dynamic political activity of the European Union countries in relation to Belarus takes place on the background of elimination of independent trade unions”.

The REWU Council hopes that “European Union’s structures would not consigned fundamental human rights principles into oblivion and would not allow strangling independent trade unions in Belarus”.

The REWU Council’s statement was sent to the International Metalworkers Federation (IMF). As one of the leaders of the organization, Alexander Bukhvostov on 21 April the IMF session discussed an issue that the Federation’s member organizations in the European Union countries informed their Government about the current situation in Belarus and REWU position.

Alexander Bukhvostov commented on the REWU statement: “We are not against establishing any international contacts. We support the idea that in the process of pursuing political and economic interests workers’ rights are not forgotten as these, as before, are violated in Belarus. Therefore we would like to pay attention of European Union structures that many problems in Belarus remain unsolved. Most of the International Labor Organization’s Commission of Inquiry Recommendations has not been implemented. I would like to remind that trade preferences that Republic of Belarus was deprived of, are offered only to Governments of the countries where trade union and workers’ rights are respected. So, in order to return trade preferences our Government shall implement ILO recommendations and avoid new violations. Today, much to our regret, we observe other picture.

STATEMENT

Council of the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers’ Union (REWU)

Since 2000 the International Labor Organization has been considering Case № 2090 On Violation of Workers’ Rights in the Republic of Belarus. In 2004, based on Article 26 of the ILO Charter the Commission of Inquiry was sent to Belarus and international experts ascertained facts of disregard to the ILO Conventions № 87 “On Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize” and № 98 “On the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining” ratified in the Republic of Belarus. The Commission made Recommendations, aimed at elimination of workers’ rights to the Government of the Republic of Belarus. A number of times the Republic of Belarus, following decisions of the ILO Governing Body has been included into special paragraph because of failure to implement the ILO Recommendations to eliminate violations of workers’ rights.

On top of this, following the decision of the European Union the Republic of Belarus has been deprived of General Trade Preferences because of violations of independent trade union rights.

Evaluating activity of the Government in an unbiased way, it is necessary to note that in the course of the past period, including 2008 - 2009, the Government did practically nothing to eliminate violations of workers’ rights and to implement Conventions 87 and 98”.

Workers, as before, are persecuted and dismissed for membership with independent trade unions, trade union organizations are denied registration and mass actions of workers are banned. In 2009 without any good reasons three primary organizations have been denied registration in Gomel, Vitebsk and Mogilev. None of the fifteen pickets, applied for to protest against refusal to register REWU primary trade union organizations has been allowed.

At the same time, workers everywhere are forced to join trade unions, which are part of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Belarus.

Since gross violations of workers’ rights continue to take place in Belarus and the International Labor Organization Recommendations, aimed at elimination of such violations are not implemented, the REWU Council considers that any development of relations between Belarus and European Union, including the Republic of Belarus invitation to the project “Eastern Partnership” seems to be premature and is not an incentive to the Belarusian leadership to respect workers’ and independent trade union rights as well as ratified Conventions of the ILO.

The REWU Council expresses its deep concern that dynamic political activity of the European Union countries in relation to Belarus takes place on the background of elimination of independent trade unions and expresses hope that the European Union would consistently follow adherence to principles of democracy and respect to human rights in establishing relations with the Republic of Belarus.

Presidium of the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers’ Union (REWU)