Henadz Fyadynich: Workers should join their forces

• 1.11.2012, 14:34

No one will be able to hurt workers of Polotsk-Steklovolokno plant if they stand together and have solidarity with one another, the expert is confident.

“Workers have the same problems – low wages, bad attitude and dissatisfaction with the trade union that does not protect workers' interests. That's why more than 100 workers left the official trade union on Polotsk-Steklovolokno plant,” Henadz Fyadynich, the chairman of the Electronic Industry Trade Union, told charter97.org.

According to the trade union leader, people got tired of constant promises of managers that are never fulfilled:

“This dissatisfaction has been demonstrated and will be demonstrated in the future. Prices are growing while wages are reducing. People receive 2.5-3 million rubles or even less per month. Workers' demands are grounded and legal. People are tired of waiting. They are fed up with empty promises they hear from everyone.”

Workers of Polotsk-Steklovolokno plant, who quit the official trade union, receive threats of depriving them of vacation benefits they can receive in accordance with the collective employment agreement. Henadz Fyadynich thinks it is illegal:

“The collective employment agreement is applied to all plant employees regardless of their membership in the trade union. Any worker, even if he has left the official trade union, should file an application to the director asking to extend the provision on vacation benefits to him. There's no right to deny it to workers.”