Granit company: new methods of pressure on trade union activists

Leanid Dubanosau, an activist of a branch of the independent trade union at Granit company, was under threat of dismissal after he failed an electrical safety exam.

Leanid Dubanousau has been working as a shovel operator at Granit for 25 years. He says he has never had problems with electrical safety exams, Radio Svaboda reports.

This time, he felt prejudice against him because he is s member of the independent trade union:

“There was a board of experts. They asked me detailed questions. I failed the first time and the second time. I will be dismissed if I fail the third time. Trade union leaders came from Salihorsk to look into the situation. Security guards did not allow them to enter the facility. The problem was solved after a telephone call to the chief power engineer. They were told they did not flunk me and it was my guilt that I failed to answer three questions. I pass the exam for the third time,” the worker said.

Leanid Dubanosau says the company authorities used his case to scare other members of the independent trade union:

“They were saying Dubanosau failed the exam and would be fired, so others should think what membership in the independent trade union can lead to.”

Aleh Stakhayevich, the head of the independent trade union branch at Granit company, is also under threat of dismissal after his driving license was suspended. He says the managers are inventing new methods to press on trade union members:

“They do not persuade us orally anymore, they use other instruments. If you fail an exam, you will be fired. But everyone understands the reasons.”

We remind that 600 workers of Granit company dissatisfied with the work of the trade union and low wages left the official trade union. They appealed to the independent trade union and faced pressure from the company authorities.