Trade union movement in Belarus

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Gennady Fedynich: "Those who choose passive strategy – choose authorities` strategy"

For the last year, the independent trade-union movement of Belarus saw a lot of changes. All the independent trade unions got united "under the umbrella" of the BKDP (Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions). However, debates on the tactics and strategy of trade-union movement never stopped. What should the modern Belarusian independent trade unions look like? What could the potential for their progress be and what is the reason of putting a spoke in each other's wheels? The Praca-by.info had a talk on these topics with Gennady Fedynich, Chairman of the Belarusian Independent Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP).

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News Firsthand information 04.12.2009

Redundant trade union activist Yuri Loban appealed to the Director General of the RUPE “Belarusian Automobile Factory” Pyotr Parkhomchik with request to reinstate him on his former job. Yuri Loban wrote in his letter addressed to Mr. Parkhomchik that his working team was always ranked high, and he as foreman received thanks from the managers. Notification that his labour contract would not be extended became a disgrace to Yuri Loban. “Is it the real reward for my fair and honest work?” – asked dismissed activist in the appeal addressed to the Director General.

"To Mr Parkhomchik, Pyotr Aleksandrovich, Director General of the RUPE "Belarusian Automobile Factory", from Loban, Yuri Nikolaevich, foreman of porters, Bay No. 42, Shop No. 140,

APPLICATION

I, Loban, Yuri Nikolaevich, was hired by the RUPE "Belarusian Automobile Factory" on July 28, 2004, as a porter at the Logistics Shop with a three-month trial period. After the expiry thereof, a labour contract was concluded with me for the maximum term of 5 years, from 25.11.2004 to 24.11.2009.

After a year of work, I was appointed a foreman of Bay No. 42, where I have worked till the present time. With the start of the economic crisis, our working conditions and work schedule have changed. Many workers, who would not agree with the new schedule, were moved to other subdivisions of the factory or just quitted. I continued working, since I got married, we waited for children to appear, and I was quite happy with my salary.

Yes, the conditions became worse; there were breaks in supply of standard binding wire, although according to the GOST (State Standard) it was fit by tolerances. For these reasons I had some "frictions" with my bosses and our trade union leader.

Being a foreman, I stood actively for worthy working conditions of my team-mates; and our team was always ranked high, and I received thanks from the managers for my work. Last year, at the meeting on the "Day of Machine-Builder", the Shop Manager publicly thanked me for good work in the presence of the whole collective. When there was a need of a welder at the shop, I went training and received my second profession.

On October 20, 2009, I received a notification that my labour contract would not be extended. That was a surprise and shame for me. Is it the real reward for my fair and honest work?

Now, I am the only breadwinner for my three-year-old daughter. My wife does not work at present and is registered as a jobless at the Employment Centre of Druzhny Settlement, Pukhovichi District.

In the time, when President Alexander Grigorievich Lukashenko states that those who work well and without violations of the labour discipline should be switched over to work without any contracts whatsoever, they want to discontinue mine.

With account of the aforesaid, I hereby ask you, Pyotr Aleksandrovich, to restore justice and extend my contract under the previous conditions. I am sure I can still do a lot of good for the factory. You will never be ashamed of me.

Yours faithfully, Yuri Loban

Attachments: labour characteristic, notification on contract termination, marriage certificate, birth certificate of the child, certificate of electrical/gas welder."

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