Trade union activist faces employment obstacles

Leanid Dubanosau, member of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union, has been unable to find job at the Granite state-run enterprise and believes that it is precisely because of his union activities.

The activist has worked at Granite for almost 20 years and is ready to resume his contract, as he suits a number of jobs available at the enterprise. “When the court heard the case regarding my reinstatement, Granite’s lawyer argued that the reason for the termination of my contract was not my membership in the independent trade union. Then I had a meeting with chief manager Eduard Haurylkovich and told him that I could work not only as an excavator operator. However, the head of the administration said he would never let me return to the plant, and alluded to the fact that I had a violation that served as a basis for the dismissal. But in fact, I was not fired, but my contract was not extended,” says the activist.

Leanid Dubanosau emphasizes that there is now a shortage of skilled workers at Granite, so he clearly sees the denial of employment as discrimination in connection with his affiliation with the independent trade union movement.