ILNSS expresses solidarity with trade unions in Belarus
The International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle (ILNSS), together with the Metal Workers’ Union of São José dos Campos (CSP-Conlutas, Brazil) expressed solidarity with the workers of Belarus.
In their statement, trade union activists all over the world demand an end to the persecution of members of Belarusian trade unions. ILNSS focuses on violations of workers’ right to freedom of association and criticizes recent amendments to labour laws. Separately, the letter mentions our comrade Artem Zhernak, the chairman of the Free Metalworkers’ Union (SPM) primary organization at MAZ, who has been in prison for more than a month.
ILNSS’s statement:
Stop the persecution of trade union leaders, activists and trade unionists in Belarus!
Organizations of the International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle are sending this note of solidarity to condemn in the strongest possible terms gross violations of workers’ and trade union rights in Belarus, including the dismissal of workers for exercising their right to freedom of association and the harassment of union leaders and members.
We learned that OJSC Mogilevkhimvolokno [chemical industry], OJSC Mogilevliftmash [production of elevators], Republican Unitary Enterprise DSK [construction], OJSC Trest 17 [construction], Gosstrakh [insurance] and other companies are putting pressure on many workers to force them to withdraw from the trade union, and there have been massive layoffs of union leaders and union members in recent months.
We condemn the arrest of Artem Zhernak, the chairman of the Free Metalworkers’ Union primary organization at Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ). He has been in custody since November 17.
In addition, the company has applied a recent amendment to the Labour Code of the Republic of Belarus which allows employers to dismiss employees for absenteeism in connection with serving an administrative penalty in the form of administrative detention, in order to get rid of unwanted union activists.
We sincerely hope that there will be no need to take further action at the international level to ensure that fundamental labour rights are fully respected.
International Labour Network of Solidarity and Struggle.