29.08.2010 Trade-union leader fined for meeting BNP union members
By decision of the Soligorsk Court, Natalia Mikhnyukevich, chair of the regional organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) was found guilty of breaking the procedure of holding meetings and fined by 0.5 basic units (floor salaries). The trade-union leader was punished for an attempt to meet the members of a shop-floor trade union organization. In the opinion of Nikolai Novik, vice-chairman of the BNP, the verdict of guilty passed by the court is another evidence of the fact that the law "On Trade Unions" does not work in Belarus.more >>

27.08.2010 Elena Eskova: bringing Natalia Mikhnyukevich to administrative responsibility is another precedent of rough violation of trade-union worker`s rights
Elena Eskova, head of the legal service of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), made her comments on possible consequences of attraction of Natalia Mikhnyukevich, chair of the Soligorsk regional organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP), to administrative responsibility. more >>

27.08.2010 Gennady Fedynich: FPB has chance to help government to lift ILO`s claims
Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy has called the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB) "to persistently use its authority and its ties with international and national trade union centres to influence the negotiation process and help the government of Belarus in final removing of ILO's claims," the state Information Agency "Belta" has reported. In the opinion of Gennady Fedynich, leader of the Belarusian Independent Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP), the FPB has such a chance.more >>

26.08.2010 Government asks FPB to help in removing ILO`s claims
The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB) should play a more active role in strengthening cooperation with the International Labour Organization (ILO), as Belarusian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorskiy said on August 25 at a meeting with FPB activists. The Premier called the FPB to use its authority and ties to affect the opponents of the solution, who, according to Mr Sidorskiy, are within the international trade-union movement.more >>

24.08.2010 Shop-floor BNP organisation wins full-fledged participation in social partnership
The shop-floor organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) at the Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) "Naftan" has protected its right to take part in social partnership along with the primary organization of the official "Belkhimprofsoyuz". As a result, the independent trade union was included into the draft of the tripartite agreement between the employer, BNP and "Belkhimprofsoyuz". more >>

23.08.2010 SPM Board approves trade-union solidarity fund
On August 19, the Board of the Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM) approved the Regulations on establishment of the solidarity fund. The leaders of the SPM are sure that without such fund it is impossible to effectively use one of the most popular and active weapons in struggle for workers' rights and interests – a strike.more >>

19.08.2010 Twenty years ago miners gave birth to independent trade-union movement of Belarus
Vasily Yurkin is one of the fathers-founders of the BKDP (Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions). In his interview to the "Salidarnasts" he told about the first steps of the independent trade-union movement and gave his estimates of what happens with it now.more >>

16.08.2010 In reply to illegal actions of militia working women get back to trade union
A trial will be held against Natalia Mikhnyukevich, leader of the Soligorsk Regional organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP). Her attempt to meet members of her trade union was treated as the militia as an administrative offence. In reply to the actions of local militia, all the 30 union members who had quitted the union under the employer's pressure returned to the BNP.more >>

13.08.2010 BKDP demands from Soligorsk authorities to stop breaking workers
On August 11, Alexander Yaroshuk, Chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), addressed the Chairman of the Soligorsk District Executive Committee in the context of the Committee's repeated refusal to register the shop-floor union organisation of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) created by working women at the Joint Limited Liability Company (JLLC) "Delta-Style".more >>

12.08.2010 Valentin Lazarenkov: "Our IEs are also hired workers"
The Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB) has initiated involvement of individual entrepreneurs (IEs) into the union. Valentin Lazarenkov, Chairman of the Brest Regional Organization of the SPB, explained to the website Praca-by.info why his trade union, after a long break, decided to deal with the problems of individual entrepreneurs, whether Belarus IEs can be treated as hired workers, not employers, and how many the state revenues from those considered to be "lousy fleas" (expression used by President Lukashenko in relation to local IEs).more >>

11.08.2010 REP returns over 15 million roubles to workers within three months
The Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP) has summed up its work in the 2nd quarter of 2010. According to Gennady Fedynich, Chairman of the REP, the outcomes cannot but satisfy: 108 workers became new union members, and the union lawyers returned 15,319,370 illegally withdrawn roubles to workers. more >>

11.08.2010 Authorities ban BNP to arrange protest action against non-registration
The Soligorsk District Executive Committee has forbidden the picket, which was applied for by the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) to be held on August 14 against violation of the rights of trade union members. The authorities did not allow holding the action in the central square of the city, as the activists had asked, or in any other place. Mr Rimashevskiy, Chairman of the Committee, instructed law enforcement bodies to check the enforcement of the authorities' decision. more >>

10.08.2010 REP ready to take part in all actions of brotherly BNP in defence of interests of "Delta-Style" working women
The Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP) has stated its solidarity support to the shop-floor union organisation of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP), who fight for their right to legally unite into a trade union. "We admire your courage, the working women of the JLLC 'Delta-Style'. We express our solidarity with you and believe that your struggle against injustice will add confidence to other workers," runs the statement of the REP Trade Union.more >>

10.08.2010 Authorities reject union registration again
The Soligorsk District Executive Committee has repeatedly rejected registration of the shop-floor union organisation of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP), which was set up by the working women of the sewing enterprise Joint Limited Liability Company (JLLC) "Delta-Style". The BNP now plans to hold another constituent meeting and make the third attempt to get its unit registered.more >>

09.08.2010 BNP calls to voice protest against pressure on members of independent trade union
The Executive Bureau of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) has addressed the country's shop-floor union organisations and brotherly trade unions with an appeal to react to illegal actions of Soligorsk militia and support activists of independent trade union of the Joint Limited Liability Company (JLLC) "Delta Style" and Natalia Mikhnyukevich, leader of the Soligorsk regional organization of the BNP. For a long time already, the employer and local authorities have been preventing the "Delta Style" workers from uniting into a trade union organization, and on August 4, when Natalia Mikhnyukevich wanted to meet the members of the trade union, she was detained by the militia and brought to the local ROVD (District Interior Division).more >>

06.08.2010 Trade-union leader kept at police station for trying to meet BNP members
Under and because of the pressure exerted by the administration of the sewing enterprise – the Joint Limited Liability Company (JLLC) "Delta-Style" – about 30 members of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) quitted the union organization. On August 4, during the shift change, Natalia Mikhnyukevich, chair of the Soligorsk Regional Organization of the BNP tried to meet the members of the trade union near the checkpoint of the enterprise aiming to discuss the situation. Supposedly, the administration the enterprise called the militia, and the trade-union leader was detained and brought to the police station.more >>

05.08.2010 Journalists confirm their respect for members of democratic trade unions
The "Belarusian Association of Journalists" (BAJ) has disseminated a statement with regard to the open letter of Alexander Yaroshuk, Chairman of the BKDP (Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions). The document notes that "the absurd statements of the BKDP leader are in no case affecting the positive attitude of the Belarusian independent journalistic community to the members of democratic trade unions – their civil stand and brevity in fighting for democratic principles and human rights in our country deserve highest respect".more >>

04.08.2010 Director demands explanations about participation in trade-union meeting
The Soligorsk District Executive Committee failed to answer the registration request of the primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) of the workers of the Joint Limited Liability Company (JLLC) "Delta Style", in spite of the fact that all the dates as established by the law has already expired. For some reasons the officials doubt that the constituent meeting of the trade union really took place. In this context the woman-director of the enterprise demanded from her working women to write explanations about their participation in the trade-union meeting.more >>

02.08.2010 Activists of REP Trade Union seek new forms of cooperation
Last weekend a group of workers of the Minsk Automobile Factory (known as MAZ) and members of the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP) had a meeting in the city of Brest with trade-union activists of the "Tsvetotron" Factory. For the two days of staying as guests with their Brest comrades, trade-union activists managed not only to discuss all their painful topics – starting from salaries, labour conditions and trade-union activities and up to the issues of Belarusian history, national consciousness and mother tongue (Belarusian language), – but also to have a good rest. more >>

30.07.2010 Yaroshuk calls not to read independent Belarusian newspapers
Alexander Yaroshuk, Chairman of the BKDP (Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions), has reacted with an open letter to the statement of "a group of editors of some Belarusian editions." In his letter he names editors-in-chief of the country's leading independent editions as "non-respected" and asserts that they are nothing more than "an ordinary toss", which has received an order "to attack a possible potential candidate for Belarus' presidency." Alexander Yaroshuk has also warned journalists that they should not feel aggrieved, "if suddenly your offices will be visited by, for instance, miners from Soligorsk, who will sensibly slap your itching hands."more >>

28.07.2010 To register a BNP unit, authorities ask smallest details of constituent meeting
The letter of the Soligorsk District Executive Committee on registration of the primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) of women-workers of the Joint Limited Liability Company (JLLC) "Delta Style" is more reminding correspondence with law enforcement bodies. In order to make a decision on possible legal activities of the trade union, the authorities requested additional information about the constituent meeting, down to tiniest details: who, where, with whom and why.more >>

27.07.2010 SPB activists suspected of transporting anti-state literature
Valentin Lazarenkov, chairman of the Brest regional organization of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB), and Victor Chaikovskiy, an SPB activist, were detained by militiamen on suspicion of transporting anti-state literature.more >>

23.07.2010 Activists of "Studentskaya Rada" draft recommendations for higher school administrations
Activists of the trade-union group of the Independent Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP) have decided not to stop on their achievements. After holding the rating named "Most Student-Friendly Higher School of Minsk-2010" and announcement of the winner, they started drafting recommendations for administrations of local higher educational establishments. Students hope to draw the officials' attention to solution of their problems.more >>

22.07.2010 Vasily Korobov: "Money for the state is the aim of privatizing of "Belaruskali". The enterprise doesn't need it"
After the Government announced its plans to privatize the "Belaruskali", a question arose: Who will become a co-owner of one of the largest enterprises of Belarus, and how can it tell on its workers? Vasily Korobov, Chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP), told in his interview to the website praca-by.info about what investor would be better for the enterprise and whether its workers have any chances to influence the terms of privatization.more >>

20.07.2010 Belarusian Editors and BAJ Leader Expressed Their Support to Salidarnasc Independent Online Publication
19 July editors of leading independent media of Belarus made a joint statement to support of Salidarnasc (www.gazetaby.com) independent online publication. It was caused by pressure the website faces from trade union officials.more >>

15.07.2010 Court supports city authorities in dispute with independent trade union
On July 12, the Gomel Tsentralny District Court considered the complaint lodged by the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP) against city authorities in respect of refusal to sanction pickets on the International Children's Day – June 1. Despite complete absence of grounds as presented by the respondent, the court supported just the latter.more >>

14.07.2010 Vasily Levchenkov: practice convinces – we need strike fund
Workers of the turning shop of the Unitary Enterprise (UE) "Lyoss" (in the town of Baran) failed to enforce their demands on salary increase. Despite the July promises to increase the rates, the employer continues paying under the old ones. The Free Trade Union of Metalworkers (SPM), according to its leader Vasily Levchenkov, has drawn lessons from the failed workers' protest action of workers: to efficiently struggle the trade union needs its strike fund.more >>

08.07.2010 Ideologist decides to force Free Trade Union out of office
Pyotr Slobodchuk, deputy director for ideological work at the Bobruisk Factory of Tractor Parts and Aggregates, wants to move the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB) from its office into some remote shed. It is impossible on the legal grounds, since the union has its valid rental contract; therefore, the ideologist decided to solve the problem by force.more >>

06.07.2010 Independent trade union "forgotten" in draft collective agreement of the OJSC "Naftan"
The primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) of the workers of the Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) "Naftan" has addressed the employer with a request to start bilateral bargaining towards signing a collective agreement. The reason is that the tripartite agreement between the employer, BNP and the official (state-supported) trade union "Belkhimprofsoyuz" fails to consider the independent trade union as a social partner.more >>

30.06.2010 Nikolai Novik: «Today we're 100 percent against such privatization»
The authorities are engaged in converting the flagship of Belarusian economy – the Republic's Unitary Enterprise Production Association (RUE PA) "Belaruskali" – into a joint-stock company. The further step will probably be in its privatization. Nikolai Novik, vice-chairman of the BNP (Belarusian Independent Trade Union), who has been leading the Independent Trade Union of Miners (NPG) at the "Belaruskali" for 16 years already, explained why the trade unions should be 100 percent against privatization on the conditions offered today by the state, what part of the enterprise belongs to the workers and what should be done to restore the historical justice.more >>

30.06.2010 BNP activists are ready to file hundred suits against "Delta Style"
The managers of the sewing enterprise – Joint Limited Liability Company (JLLC) "Delta Style" – continue breaching the rights of members of the primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP) by refusing to make non-cash transfers of membership fees. Formally, the employer obeyed to the court ruling and transferred the fees, but only of the three members of the trade union, who had addressed the court; while the applications of other 98 members were ignored.more >>

29.06.2010 Lukashenko addresses REP Trade Union
A namesake of the incumbent President has complained to the legal service of the Gomel representative office of the Belarusian Radio and Electronic Workers' Union (REP) against arbitrariness of local bureaucrats who want to demolish his shed.more >>

24.06.2010 FPB will not only support Lukashenko at election, but will sign-in for his nomination
The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (known as "FPB") will not only support Alexander Lukashenko as a nominee for President of Belarus, but is also ready to bag subscriptions for nomination of the incumbent head of the state as a candidate for presidency at the forthcoming election. This was stated on June 23 by Chairman of the FPB Leonid Kozik, who addressed the participants of the reporting-election conference of the Gomel Regional Trade Union Association. more >>