Campaigns

"Trade union activity is not extremism!"

The campaign "Trade Union Activity is Not Extremism!" has been launched in order to attract the attention of the international community to the situation with workers' rights in Belarus. There is police terror, torture and harassment of those who disagree with Lukashenko's dictatorial regime, including trade union activists.

The campaign calls for the release of trade union and political prisoners, an end to repression of trade union activists, and restoration of guarantees of legal activities of independent trade unions. The campaign is organized by the Association "Salidarnast," which provides support to trade union activists, and is timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Lukashenko regime's 2022 union pogroms. The campaign runs from March 19 to April 22 2024, and aims to draw international attention to problems related to trade union rights in Belarus and contribute to their resolution.

Day of Action for Trade Union Rights and Democracy in Belarus

April 19. 2024, is the Day of Action for Trade Union Rights and Democracy in Belarus to demand the release of all imprisoned Belarusian union leaders.

You will remember that the rule of Lukashenko and his system resulted in the dissolution of the four independent unions (BNP (BITU), SPB, SPM, and REP) and their national TU center BKDP and the arrest of its leaders in 2022. Currently, almost fifty union leaders and activists are held in custody. Many of them have been listed as extremists or terrorists. This was done to take away their rights and put them under constant surveillance even should they be released. The campaign to support them is organized by Salidarnast e.V. and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

You are invited to publicly support the movement for independent trade unionism and democracy in Belarus and denounced the blatant harassment faced by Belarusian workers. We call upon you to join the campaign by doing one or more of the following actions:

Demand the release of trade unionists
leaders

Send a letter to the Government of the Republic of Belarus and hold actions in front of Belarusian embassies in your countries demanding access to and release of the incarcerated union leaders including Aliaksander Yarashuk, BKDP President, ITUC Vice-President, and a member of the ILO Governing Body.

Prepare letters on ILO resolutions

Send letters to your national Governments urging them to fulfill the ILO Resolution adopted by the ILC in June 2023, with relation to the cultural, economic, trade, scientific, and other areas of international cooperation with Belarus and requesting information concerning actions they may already have taken in this regard covering issues of non-deportation of Belarusian refugees and interaction with other UN structures and international institutions, as well as urging them to take diplomatic efforts to ensure access to the imprisoned union leaders and their release.

Take part in thematic meetings
on Belarus

Demand that national representatives of the tripartite partners, as well as State representatives in various UN bodies take part in the high-level thematic meeting on Belarus before the next ILC as per the decision of the ILO Governing Body, to call upon Belarus to fulfill the recommendations of the ILO supervisory bodies and ensure that trade unions in the country are owned and governed by the workers and not the Government.

Organize the participation of national representatives in the meeting on Belarus

Hold meetings on issues of comprehensive human rights due diligence concerning Belarusian employers and the Government, review the situation in supply chains, financial and other business services involving Belarusian companies, and take steps to use the leverage to address violations.

Record a video message of solidarity

Make a video recording of your message of solidarity with the union leaders, stating that trade union activity is not extremism, calling for freedom of association and democracy in Belarus and for the release of the imprisoned Belarusian trade union leaders. Please post your messages in your communications outlets, using the hashtags #FreeBelarusUnionists #SolidarityWithBelarusTradeUnionists #SupportBelarusWorkersRights #April19_WorkersRights, so that we could share them further in our turn.

Join an online meeting to discuss the Belarusian issue

You can also join the online meeting organized by the ITUC and the ETUC on April 19, 2024, from 09:30 to 11:00 am as part of the Day of Action for TU Rights and Democracy in Belarus. The meeting will be held in English and Russian; you can register HERE.

Street Action • Street Action • Street Action • Street Action • Street Action • Street Action • Street Action

ACTION OF SOLIDARITY

On April 19, 2024, Salidarnast e.V. will hold a protest action to mark the Day; the gathering will take place in the Paris Square (Parise Platz), Berlin 10117, near the Brandenburg Gate, from 12:30 to 13:30. We shall be happy to see you attending.

April 19, 2024

Berlin 10117

Paris Square (Parise Platz)

12:30 - 13:30

Solidarity campaign

We call on everyone to join our campaign and support our demands. We must unite to achieve our rights and decent working conditions for Belarusian workers.