Authorities scared of workers' solidarity

May wages on Granit factory (Mikashevichy) have considerably increased.

Salidarnasts has learned it from Aleh Stakhayevich, the leader of factory's primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union.

“The average wage doubled in May,” the trade union leader noted. “The most well-paid workers, BelAZ drivers, began to receive from 8 to 11 million rubles, excavator drivers – 7-9 million. Other workers get about 4-6 rubles of net pay per month.”

Many Granit workers link the growth in wages to activity of the independent trade union.

“The main thing is that managers stopped treating workers in an insulting way. The talk to us in a completely different manner,” Aleh Stalhayevich says.

According to him, Granit executives said six months ago they could not increase wages.

“They saw the number of members of the primary trade union organization does not reduce (moreover, new people come to us) and doubled the pay. I think the intention of managers to coax workers and reduce the influence and popularity of the independence trade union will fail. People see that our unity and firm stance can bring results. Workers connect the wage growth with effective activity of the trade union,” the trade union leader concluded.