New Attacks on Trade Union Rights in Belarus

Posted to the IUF website 20-Dec-2001

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The authoritarian president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has resumed his drive to crush the labour movement by now attacking the financial independence of the trade unions which remain the principal reservoir of opposition to his despotic rule.

The latest measure aimed at undermining trade union rights has now been implemented in the form of government Decree Number 1804, adopted on December 14. This decree, cynically entitled "On Measures to Protect the Rights of Trade Union Members", abolishes the union check-off by which employees pay their union dues directly through deduction from their salaries by their employers.
Until this decree, the check-off system was accepted practice and was routinely included in collective agreements. Its conformity with both national legislation and international Conventions and practices were confirmed by the nation's Constitutional Court in a decision on February 21 this year.

The decree is a direct attack on the financial independence of the trade union movement and is clearly aimed at destroying the effectiveness of the trade unions both as social self-defence organizations of the workers and as a source of democratic opposition to Lukashenko.

The Belarussian national center FTUB has called for a national and international campaign to protest this latest assault on trade union rights. The FTUB's campaign for the repeal of the decree is being supported by the Russian national center FNPR and by the ICFTU and other international union organizations. The IUF has responded by sending a message to President Lukashenko calling for the immediate repeal of the decree.

We appeal to all supporters of trade union and democratic rights to add their voices to this campaign by likewise sending a message to Mr. Lukashenko. The fax message below may serve as a sample

Kindly send copies of any messages you might send to the IUF secretariat, as well as to the FTUB at the following fax number: +375 17 210 4337/+375 17 223 9062.

We thank you in advance for your solidarity and support.

Sample fax message to: Mr. Alexander Lukashenko
President, Republic of Belarus
Fax: +375 17 2 26 06 10

Concerns: Government Decree Abolishing the Union Check-off and Continuing Violations of Trade Union Rights

Dear Mr. President,

I have been informed of the latest in a series of attacks on basic trade union rights in Belarus, government Decree Number 1804 adopted on December 14. By abolishing the right of workers to have their dues paid through the check-off system, this decree directly threatens the financial independence of the trade unions and their ability to effectively defend the living and working conditions of Belarussian workers.

The abolition of the check-off system by decree is a flagrant violation of ILO Convention 87, which establishes the right of workers everywhere to freedom of association. I therefore call upon your government to immediately repeal this decree, which is in violation of international law and practice and democratic norms.

Yours sincerely,