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Belarus: the Automobile and Agricultural Machinery Workers’
Union saved its independence following the suit of the
Agrarians.
The Belarus Automobile and Agricultural Machinery Workers’
Union (ASM) held its Congress on September 7, with the
election of the Republican Committee Chairman being the key
issue on the agenda. According to the trade union information,
the powers and enterprise managers put the same pressure upon
the Congress delegates as they had done two months earlier on
the delegates of the Agroindustrial Workers’ Trade Union.
The Belorussian Administration is dissatisfied with the
activities of the ASM Union Republican Committee which was
among the signatories of the Belorussian trade union complaint
to the ILO, as well as with its acting Chairman Alexander
Bukhvostov who openly unmasks the deteriorated situation with
workers’ rights in the Republic and a critical situation in
the industry which has provoked strikes at certain enterprises
protesting against long-term arrears of wages. The
Presidential Administration tried hard to replace Mr.
Bukhvostov with a more loyal and controllable candidate to the
position of the ASM Chairman.
Mr. Kartsev, Deputy Director General for Social Issues of
Minsk tractor-building works and former Deputy Chairman of the
enterprise trade union committee was moved forward as an
alternative candidate. His candidature was supported by M.
Leonov, Director General of Minsk tractor-building works, and
A. Kharlap, Belorussian Minister of Industry, who accused the
Union of excessive confrontation with the powers.
However, the Directors and other officials failed to
influence the Congress delegates. Alexander Bukhvostov won
with 180 votes in favour over 64 contras. Thus, following the
suit of the Belarus Agroindustrial Workers’ Union, the ASM
Congress delegates repelled the governmental attempt to
establish its control over the organization.
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