Support for the Free Trade Union goes global
The leaders of friendly trade unions, on behalf of their members, express their indignation at the dismissal of qualified scientists, teachers and students for their union membership and express their support for the Belarusian Free Trade Union (SPB).
Earlier, the German Education Union (GEW), the German Student Association (fzs) sent their letters to the address of the Minister of Education I.V. Karpenko and Director of the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences R.I. Sheiko.
Recently, letters of support for the SPB and protest against the forced dismissal and non-renewal of contracts at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences have been received from the Teachers’ Union of the UK (NASUWT), the Hungarian Teachers’ Union (PDSZ), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Union leaders speak on behalf of hundreds of thousands of their members.
“The Union of Teachers of the United Kingdom protests against the forced resignations and dismissals of members of the Belarusian Free Trade Union at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences, and demands their immediate reinstatement. We urge you to stop obstructing their union work, to end discrimination against employees on account of their union membership and to adhere to international labour standards as required by the International Labour Organization”, – said the General Secretary of the NASUWT, Dr Patrick Roach.
“We protest against the dismissal of members of the Belarusian Free Trade Union (SPB) at the Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences and demand their immediate reinstatement. We urge you to respect the fundamental rights of students and academics at the National Academy of Sciences, which include freedom of expression and assembly, freedom of association, and academic freedom. In addition, we would like to express our solidarity with the Belarusian Free Trade Union and their primary organization at the National Academy of Sciences”, – commented Anna Komjathy, Acting Chair of the National Board of the Democratic Union of Hungarian Teachers.
“Since Belarus is a member state of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Belarus has an obligation to protect and promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights, tolerance and non-discrimination. Therefore, we join scientists and other figures, including our trade union partners in the Belarusian Free Trade Union and the Education and Science Workers’ Union in Germany, urging Belarus to reinstate the dismissed scientists and ensure that teachers and students are allowed to live and work without fear of reprisals”, – wrote Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.
We are grateful to all friendly trade unions for their support and solidarity.