Главная / Новости / News

BKDP has made a statement in connection with the trade union activist Elena Zakhozhaya hunger strike.

The BKDP has made a statement in connection with the hunger strike of the trade union activist Elena Zakhozhaya who resorted to this extreme measure to stop the elimination of the primary-level union organization of the Belarusian Independent Union (BNP) at Bobruisk “Belshina” Tire Company. “This is a direct evidence of boundless neglect of law and morality on the part of the OAO “Belshina” management, public prosecutors, “Belneftekhim” Concern and the Bobruisk court. The BRDP resolutely protests against the actions of the above-enumerated official bodies and insists on immediate elimination of the infringements of the rights of our organization at “Belshina” Company and on satisfaction of all the demands of Elena Zakhozhaya without delay. We demand from the officials to demonstrate their responsibility and not to allow further escalation of the conflict as the friends and comrades of Elena Zakhozhaya are ready to join her and go on hunger strike too. We warn that those who cynically violate the rights of workers will be brought to account, including the juridical one, for the negative consequences that might be”,--- says the statement of the independent national trade union center.

STATEMENT

of Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions

The hunger strike by our colleague Elena Zakhozhaya (electrician), deputy chairperson of the primary-level organization of the BNP at OAO “Belshina” Tire Company is being lasting for four days.

The management of the OAO “Belshina” which has launched the campaign on eliminating of the independent union at the enterprise has made Elena to resort to this extreme protest action. As a result of the unprecedented pressure on the part of the enterprise administration the local union was reduced by 3 times. The directors of the company do everything so as the members of independent union were not covered by the social guaranties stipulated by the collective agreement. On the occasion of professional fest of the chemical workers the members of independent union in revenge were not included into the premium pay-roll despite the fact that they all have dozens of years of service. They also were deprived of allowances for annual holiday and for health rehabilitation. And at the same time the members of the state-controlled union at the enterprise have received all these benefits and allowances.

Moreover, the company administration refuses to provide legal address to our organization and because of this it cannot get registration in the local public bodies.

The Prosecutor office, where the union activists were trying to get protection, did not find any violations on the part of the employer. Elena Zakhozhaya then addressed the Head of the “Belnefekhim” Concern Alexander Borovski, but the situation did not change for the better. The refusal of the local court to initiate the proceedings against the facts of trade union discrimination became a last drop of patience that induced her to start the hunger strike.

There is a direct evidence of the boundless neglect of law and morality on the part of the OAO “Belshina” management, public prosecutors, “Belneftekhim” Concern and the Bobruisk court.

The BRDP resolutely protests against the actions of the above-enumerated official bodies and insists on immediate elimination of the infringements of the rights of our organization at “Belshina” Company and on satisfaction of all the demands of Elena Zakhozhaya without delay.

We demand from the officials to demonstrate their responsibility and not to allow further escalation of the conflict as the friends and comrades of Elena Zakhozhaya are ready to join her and go on hunger strike too.

We warn that those who cynically violate the rights of workers will be brought to account, including the juridical one, for the negative consequences that might be.

We express our full solidarity to a courageous and heroic woman and our colleagues Elena Zakhozhaya who is struggling against arbitrary behavior and lawlessness.

06.10.2006