Preventive Strike At Salihorsk Large Enterprises :: Charter'97 :: News

In Salihorsk at the large state-run enterprises “Universal”, “Kupalinka”, “Kalinka”, at the construction organizations, medical and educational institutions a preventive strike against abuse of trade union rights by authorities was held on February 1 from 12.00 to 12.05. The miners of the association “Belaruskalij” had not participated in the strike.

The chairman of the Salihorsk town strike committee and of the Belarusian Independent trade union Viktar Babaied explained to Radio Svaboda that on January 31 strike committee called the workers not to take part in it. The reason was Minsk regional court ruling from January 30, that found action of January 11 illegal. Then workers protested against the famous December decree that cancelled the way of trade union dues’ collection through accounts departments. In this situation in case of participation in the strike the authorities would have juridical grounds to punish trade unions of “Belaruskalij” severely.

However hired workers of other large plants, builders, teachers and doctors, according to Babaied’s information, carried out a strike with several thousands of participants.

On the same day “Belaruskalij” trade unions completed two-days negotiations with management of the association, related to the articles of the collective agreement concerning the collection of the trade union dues through accounts department. However they could not come to agreement. Now, as said by Babaied, the miners’ trade unions have one reason left – to enter a collective court dispute with administration. That can lead to real, and not symbolic strike.