Labour Russia
on the Net

October 11, Minsk. Having met with the growing sense of unity among the workers and unions affiliated to the FTUB and its broad support of the world trade union movement, Lukashenko’s Administration did not dare manipulate with the Third Congress of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, as it had done before at the branch trade union congresses. Unity and resoluteness in defending independence of the organisation marked the Second day of the Congress, held at the Headquarter building of the Federation which composed of 33 branch unions with the total strength of 4,378,370 members, being the biggest and most influential trade union organisation in the Republic.

Day 2 of the Congress was opened with the Report of Vladimir Goncharik, FTUB President, who recorded dramatic decline in living standards, short-sighted economic policy aimed at hindering alternative non-governmental sectors of the economy which has brought a system crisis in the economy followed by drastic impoverishment of the population. According to the Belarusian Ministry of Statistics, almost half of the country’s population is living below a poverty line. All attempts of the President to cope with the problem administratively, through ordering enterprises to raise wages at the expense of bank loans have only aggravated the situation. Practically each fifth enterprise in the industrial sector and about half of kolkhozs and sovkhozs in the country are chronically unprofitable. The observed depreciation in the manufacturing sector has reached 70 percent and more, almost two times exceeding the level of economic safety.

FTUB believes that a radical change in the social and economic areas requires a revision of the currently applied model of economic development and shifting the focus from prohibitions and limitations to motivation and encouraging domestic manufacturers. First of all, the changes are required in the taxation, crediting and monetary systems helping to secure effective economic growth.

However, instead of resolving social and economic problems, the ruling regime has been building up its repression system and persecuting independent journalists, politicians, and trade unions that are fighting for improving living standards of workers. Blocking of bank accounts, pressure on trade unionists, intimidation of delegates to trade union congresses and elected leaders, anti-trade union blackmailing campaigns in the state-owned media, repressive Presidential decrees - all this has formed the environment for trade unions activities.

State-owned media have been repeatedly feeding the public with the idea that trade unions and their leaders are engaged in “political parties thus damaging trade unionism...”. The FTUB stands firmly that trade unions can not be beyond politics: there can be no “sterile” unions. Still, no political party has ever determined the Federation’s standpoint.

FTUB believes that trade unions have all reasons to disagree with many aspects of the current social and economic policy, to demand higher living standards and to protest against all attempts to transform their organisations into a voiceless and obedient appendix of the Government. “Stop defaming unions!”, said FTUB President.

“We all need to realise that we cannot survive alone. Only our concerted will and joint actions will lead us to success and help improve workers living. Together we are unions, together we shall win!”- said Vladimir Goncharik. He expressed thanks to all foreign and international trade unions for their solidarity and promised that Belarusian trade unions intend to give their support to all workers in their struggle over the world.

Michail Shmakov, President of the Russian Federation of Independent Trade Unions, welcomed the Congress’ participants and handed in to Mr. Goncharik a massive package of letters of protest and solidarity received from many countries of the world. In his address, he resolutely expressed readiness of the Russian trade unionism to support Belarusian unions in their fight against the governmental interference. He also expressed his concerns about the fact that the draft Labour legislation of the Belarus-Russia Union is incorporating the worst of two possible standards.

In their presentations the Congress delegates representing trade unions from agriculture, chemical, radio and electronic industry, energy sector, machine-building, education, healthcare and other sectors, repeatedly stressed the necessity to strengthen trade union movement and to repel the attack of the Presidential Administration.

Participating to the Congress Vladimir Yermoshin, Prime-Minister of Belarus, wished to the trade unions to settle their relations with the President, thus putting the Government aside from the pressure campaign against trade unions undertaken by the Presidential Administration. He had to recognise as erroneous the attempts to form “yellow unions”, undertaken by enterprise managers following the presidential guidelines to split the unions.

The delegates gave a standing ovation to Vladimir Goncharik, who was unanimously elected as the President of the Federation for the next five years. The Council and Presidium of the Federation were also elected.

The Congress passed an Action program for 2001-2005 and a Resolution “On unity in Belarusian Trade Union Movement”. It also decided to hold the necessary consultations on the FTUB affiliation to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).

Taking into account that the unions are still under pressure and their bank accounts remain frozen the Congress entrusted the FTUB Council to set up a general protest action.

English Home page