Court in Mahiliou turns down suit by trade union activist
Aliaksei Paulouski
Trade union activist Aliaksei Paulouski demanded apologies from a construction company which refused to employ him due to “possible negative consequences”. The suit was considered by the Court of Mahiliou’s Leninski district.
On 20 September and 13 November 2012, the administration of the Mahiliou house-building factory refused to employ the trade union activist citing the fact that they “know the negative effects of employment and dismissals of Paulouski at other enterprises in the city”.
Aliaksei Paulouski notes that the trial revealed the actual reasons for his harassment. As a result, the activist is preparing new lawsuits and a number of complaints to various government agencies.
“The court summoned chairman of the company’s trade union and organization’s lawyer. They said that the reason for not employing me was a publication about me in the union’s newspaper Belaruski Chas entitled “How to become a star” and a report about me aired on the Belarus 1 TV channel after 15 people wrote applications for dismissal in solidarity with me in connection with a decision not to extend my labor contract, as well as a publication on the local site voskresinfo.com,” says Paulouski.
The trial was chaired by Judge Andrei Yurchanka, who advised Aliaksei Paulouski to reclaim the name of a good worker. To do this, he should file a series of suits against state-owned media, who published information about him in an unfavorable light.
Aliaksei Paulouski has been unable to find a job, receiving info from the Mahiliou city center of employment trends, but repeatedly refused to be employed on various pretexts.
The trade union activist has been repeatedly dismissed for the protection of workers’ rights, as well as for compliance with safety regulations during construction works. His employers opposed his trade union activity and complaints about poor working conditions.
