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EHU Alumnus leads a labor strike in one of Belarus’ largest plants

Viktar Stukau graduated from European Humanities University (EHU) undergraduate program “International Law” (Class 2011). Today, Viktar is the chairman of the primary organization of the Belarusian Free Trade Union at one of the largest plants in Belarus – Polotsk-based glass fiber manufacturer JSC “Steklovolokno”.

On October 10 the Belarusian Free Trade Union announced a strike, which is planned to begin on November 1 and continue until the end of the calendar year 2017. The reason for the strike was  the discrimination of workers and psychological pressure on the members of the Belarusian Free Trade Union. The workers of “Steklovolokno” demand the equal working and treatment conditions for all employees regardless their membership in the trade union.

The appeal to the leadership of the enterprise contains 17 demands aimed at improvement of the provisions of the collective agreement. These demands would ensure that the employer wouldn’t interfere with the activities of the trade union and provide equal treatment of all employees, who are members of various labor unions.

EHU Alumnus comments: “In each case, according to article 391 of the Labor Code, an employee make a personal decision to join the strike or not. The managers of the plant have no right to prevent any employee from joining the strike. Otherwise the criminal charges may be pressed onto the leadership of the plant”.

Previously, the leadership of “Steklovolokno” plant ignored all letters and appeals, sent by the Belarusian Free Trade Union, and adopted a new collective agreement with disregard for the proposals of the workers.

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