Babruisk: Administration of state-owned enterprise supports only official trade union

The administration of the Babruisk-based Plant of Tractor Parts and Units (PTPU) continues to harass members of the independent trade union. Lately, the workers have been baited with financial rewards. Mikhail Kavalkou, chairman of the FTU’s local office, says that employees were promised payment up to one million rubles for leaving the independent trade union.

Moreover, the administration of the plant has taken a step that as stated by Mikhail Kavalkou discriminates against members of the Free Trade Union of Belarus and workers who do not belong to any unions. A few days ago, the company held a conference of trade union officials. The delegates adopted a new three-year collective employment agreement between the official trade union and the administration of the enterprise.

Under this contract individual payments will be limited to members of the official trade union, including one-time allowance for going on vacation, other bonuses, e.g. on anniversaries and retirement of employees, children’s allowance, etc. In addition, only members of the pro-government trade union are allowed in the local sports center. This is despite the fact that these payments and the maintenance of the sports center are contributed to by all factory workers.

Mikhail Kavalkou is determined to ensure that this collective agreement was not registered.