Stop discrimination!

Statement of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union

The Belarusian Independent Trade Union supports all the requirements put forward by employees of the Babruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units who on March 25 announced a three-day warning hunger strike.

The reason for the hunger strike of the Babruisk plant workers became discrimination of the members of the Free Trade Union. Back in January, its chairman Mikhail Kavalkou called on the administration to stop the persecution of activists (some of which were dismissed) and to enter into negotiations with the trade union’s primary office for the development and signing of a collective agreement. The union has repeatedly warned that if these requirements were not met, it will declare a hunger strike.

In the morning of March 25, five members of the Free Trade Union of the Babruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units declared a warning hunger strike.

We, the Belarusian Independent Trade Union, urge the plant management and its director A. Ahranovich to put an end to the discriminatory actions against the Free Trade Union of Belarus, to begin negotiations with the protesters.

Remember, thousands of our members are watching the developments in Babruisk. We express our full solidarity with our brothers and sisters!

The Executive Bureau of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union