Prague: unionists raise money to pay the fine adjudged to REP Trade Union leader (photo) 31.10.2011 The participants of the regional conference of member-organizations of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) in the Central, Eastern, South-Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have initiated a cap-money raising for paying the fine imposed by the Belarusian court on Gennady Fedynich, the leader of the REP Independent Trade Union.more >>

IMF conference condemns detention and trial of trade union leader 31.10.2011 Representatives of member-organizations of the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF) in the Central, Eastern, South-East Europe and the CIS, who gathered for their regional conference in Prague, have resolutely condemned the detention on October 25, 2011, at the Minsk Airport of Gennady Fedynich, Chairman of the Belarusian REP Trade Union, who was on his way to the above IMF conference.more >>

Director of Lukoml SDPP promises to SPB to increase salaries 28.10.2011 A few days ago, an emergency meeting took place of Alexander Bazylenko, Director-General of the Lukoml State District Power Plant (SDPP) with Alexei Gabriel, chairman of the primary organization of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB). The topic was the leakage of labour force from the plant and the need to increase wages and salaries.more >>

FPB leaders want to force – just for "fairness" – all Belarusian workers to fund them 27.10.2011 The workers who are not union members, but who are covered by the Collective Agreement shall make monthly transfers to the account of the trade union committee in the amount of union membership fees. This opinion was expressed at the sitting of the Presidium of the Board of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB). The Chairman of the Federation Leonid Kozik believes that this proposal should be fixed at the legislative level.more >>

Chairman of REP Trade unionists fined 40 basic units 26.10.2011 Gennady Fedynich, Chairman of the REP Trade Union, has been fined by 40 basic units (1.4 million Belarusian roubles) for organizing the People's Assembly. Judge Kirill Polulekh has ignored a flagrant violation of the procedure – the protocol on administrative violation was drawn up two weeks after the alleged offence was committed.more >>

Reporting-Electing Congress of BKDP appointed on 14 December 26.10.2011 At its meeting on October 19, the Board of the BKDP (Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions), the governing body of the independent trade union centre, decided to hold the regular Eighth Reporting-Electing Congress of the BKDP.more >>

BNP offers to check whether BNP and "Belkhimprofsoyuz" meet the democratic principles of the international trade union movement 25.10.2011 Nikolai Zimin, Chairman of the Belarusian Independent Trade Union (BNP), has offered, when speaking at a conference of the ICEM regional organization for Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South Caucasus, to set up a commission and check the activities of two member-organizations of the ICEM – the BNP and the "Belkhimprofsoyuz" – for compliance with the ICEM democratic principles. more >>

Thirty persons came to support Zinaida Mikhnyuk at the first court hearing on her case of "disorderly conduct" 25.10.2011 On October 20, the court started considering the case on charges against Zinaida Mikhnyuk, Deputy Chair of the REP Trade Union, of her disorderly conduct (minor hooliganism) on the day of the People's Assembly held on October 8. Thirty union activists came to support their leader.more >>

Director of OJSC "Polotsk Steklovolokno" would not give Collective Agreement for signature to SPB 18.10.2011 The Director of the Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) "Polotsk Steklovolokno" asserts that the labour collective of his factory had delegated the right to sign the Collective Agreement exclusively to the trade union named "Belkhimprofsoyuz", which is a member of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FPB). This employer's position is contrary to the legislation, as activists of the Free Trade Union of Belarus (SPB) insist.more >>

Zinaida Mikhnyuk, Deputy Chair of REP Trade Union: "Grasping my hands and feet, they rudely shoved me into UAZ van and floored me there" 14.10.2011 Deputy Chair of the REP Trade Union Zinaida Mikhnyuk was detained by the militia on October 8 – the day of the People's Assembly, a couple of minutes before the start of the event. The trade union leader turned to the prosecutor's office to complain against the rude actions of militiamen. "It looks like the conduct of the militiamen who had detained me is the everyday norm for them," writes Zinaida Mikhnyuk, "and, therefore, is a threat to citizens' safety."more >>