A clear example of how dissent crackdown policy leads the country to a dead end

There was a time when a large and powerful organization of the Belarusian Free Trade Union (SPB) operated at the Bobruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units. It was, perhaps, one of the best organizations of independent trade unions; it effectively defended the rights and interests of not only its members, but also all workers of the enterprise, not in word but in deed. Its leader, our colleague and friend Mikhail Kovalkov, enjoyed well-deserved prestige both at the aforementioned plant and in the city of Bobruisk.

The activity and fighting spirit of the free trade union and its leader had a predictable ending. Dozens of members of the organization were dismissed after the expiration of the contract, many of them were forced to resign under pressure, the trade union was not assigned a registered address, so it could not get re-registered in the process of transforming the enterprise into an open joint-stock company and was liquidated. Mikhail Kovalkov has not been able to find a job anywhere for many years.

It remains to be added that the numerous workers fired from the enterprise for membership in the free trade union included the most qualified specialists with acutely scarce specialties. Having destroyed the free trade union and revenged on its members, the administration of the Bobruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units, with a feeling of satisfaction and fulfilled duty, starts to place such announcements. If that’s not idiocy, then what is it?

 

To the attention of the plant workers!

Bring a worker with a scarce specialty and get a bonus of 10 basic values.