This campaign is now closed.
Please take a moment to visit our active campaigns page.
Belarus: Trade union activity is not extremism!
       |
| In partnership with the Association Salidarnast, which was founded in Bremen by Belarusian trade union activists, who left Belarus for security reasons. The organization was created to support those trade union activists who had been arrested and convicted by the Lukashenko regime. The Association Salidarnast provides humanitarian, legal and informational assistance to these people and their families; and encourages everyone to join the struggle for the release of political prisoners. The campaign is launched in partnership with the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the International Union of Foodworkers (IUF), IndustriALL global union, Public Services International (PSI) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). |
On April 19 2022 dozens of union leaders and activists of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions were arrested. The reason for the arrests was the public anti-war trade union position and criticism of the Belarusian authorities for violations of fundamental human rights. More than 30 trade unionists were sentenced to up to 9 years on trumped-up charges for their position. All democratic trade unions were liquidated and trade union activity was banned. Union activists and workers seen in the 2020 protests are dismissed. Fired workers cannot find jobs, and their families are left without a livelihood. Jailed union leaders are listed en masse as extremists and terrorists. Unions have the full right to operate freely and to defend the rights and interests of their members. Repression and persecution must stop and political prisoners must be released!
Video
