Brest: Trade Union Holds Picket against Repeal of Social Benefits

The picket was held by the Belarusian Trade Union of Radio Electronic Trade. According to the trade union’s press secretary Mikalai Herasimenka, the picket was authorized by the authorities and took place at Lakamatyu stadium, 4.30 to 7 p.m. At 5 p.m. there gathered about 25 persons of different age and social background: students, workers and pensioners, including several representatives of the Party of Communists of Belarus. The picketers protested also against the increase of the fees for public utilities, the contract system and low pensions. 

‘The action enjoyed a lively interest of Brest citizens, but started with an unpleasant incident’, told M.Herasimenka. ‘We started preparations to the picket outside the stadium, about 2 meters from the fence. Our actions were watched by the police and persons in mufti. When the preparations ended, they said to Aliaksandra Khudautsova, who had applied for authorization of the picket, that an administrative violation took place as the picket participants left the stadium. They accused her of violation of the law on mass actions, voluntary change of the action’s place.’ After a talk with the police the action continued on the territory of the stadium.

Herasimenka believes that Lakamatyu is a bad place for such actions as it is situated in a private sector and it is hard to draw public attention in such places. Recently the trade union has held a similar action in Mahiliou. It is also intended to organize pickets against repeal of benefits in other cities of Belarus.