Alexander Yaroshuk, Chairman of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (BKDP), told BelaPAN that Belarusian independent trade unions are studying a possibility of launching a campaign of boycotting Belarus-made goods at the European market.

"We cooperate with European trade unions and had earlier discussed with them a possibility of such boycott. Should Belarusian authorities take any actions aimed at destruction of the independent trade union movement in Belarus, then we should have a possibility of such campaign. Our European colleagues treat it with understanding and are ready to support us," said Yaroshuk.

"Of course, this does not mean that tomorrow we'll press a button and stop the exports of petroleum products, say, to the Netherlands. We simply warn all 'hot heads' that we have something to protect our trade unions," he stressed.

Alexander Yaroshuk has noted that in the first place the point is in the situation at the Republic's Unitary Production Enterprise (RUPE) "Granit" in Mikashevichi (Brest Region), where a primary organization of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP), but the administration still would not react to the request to provide the new primary organization with a legal address.

According to the press service of the BKDP, on January 16, in Soligorsk, the first training seminar took place with participation of the new independent trade union unit. The event was attended by about 40 members of the BNP from the RUPE "Granit" and held by the leaders of the BNP and the Independent Trade Union of Miners (NPG).

The seminar focused on issues related to creation and legalization of the BNP shop-floor organization at the RUPE "Granit" and the pressure initiated by the enterprise bosses on the leaders of the organization.

Let us remind you that in late December last year, several hundred workers RUPE "Granit" wrote applications to quit from the official trade union that exists at the enterprise. Being dissatisfied with their wages and the attitude of the administration, the workers decided to set up a primary organization of the BNP. On December 26, they sent a letter to the Director General of the RUPE "Granit" asking to provide the new trade union organization with a legal address needed for registration.

Besides, on January 14, Oleg Stakhaevich, the leader of the newly-formed independent trade union organization, was deprived of his driver's license for the period of six months. Because of this, he may lose his job, since he works at the enterprise as a dump truck driver.

A protocol was drawn up against him that he had allegedly failed to give way to a pedestrian at as road crossing and created an emergency situation. Stakhaevich claims that he had not committed any violation.