Independent trade union activists at Belshina plant face threats of dismissal

Workers of Babruisk-based Belshina joint stock, who recently joined the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BITU), say they receive threats labour contracts with them will not be prolonged.

Workers say they are threatened with cutting additional payments for professional skills, Radio Svaboda reports.

A branch of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union was officially registered at Belshina plant. The primary trade union organization has about 30 members out of several thousand staff. The trade union branch head, Mikhail Ustsinovich, informs about intimidation of five new members.

“Two people left us. The third asks what he should do. I think it was an order from above not to allow the independent trade union at Belshina to grow. Ideologists perform this task. How can we talk about social partnership? A person has made his choice to join the primary organization. Why did they attack him, his wife, mother and mother-in-law? We are not so active. It's good they allow us to act as a piece of scenery. People began to join us and we faced problems,” Ustsinovich says.

Syarhei, a worker of Belshina structural subdivision – mass tyre plant, is one of those who decided to stay in the independent trade union. Syarhei, who refused to tell his surname, confirms he faced pressure from the management after he had joined the trade union.

“The plant director does not say straightly what he can do to me. He just says he does not want me to be in the independent trade union. The shop manager says he met pressure and warns it's possible that a labour contract with me won't be prolonged. Secondly, additional payments for professional skills may be reviewed and I may be deprived of them,” Syarhei says.