2 December, 2009Union activists arrested for collecting signatures in support of «BelAZ» worker Yuri Loban, who was dismissed after his short-term contract expired.
BELARUS: Following the non-renewal of the contract of Yuri Loban at the «BelAZ» plant, members of IMF affiliate REPAM planned to collect signatures in support of the worker on November 24, but police interfered, seizing union materials and arresting activists.
Loban himself was arrested after the last work shift in front of the factory gates by plain-clothes officers. Local REPAM leader Nikolai Pokhabov and several other union activists were also taken into custody for several hours.
The infamous Decree No. 29, issued by the Lukashenko regime in 1999, switched many Belorussian workers to one-year contracts. As a result management gained an opportunity to get rid of those who didn't show enough loyalty, simply dismissing them after their contracts expired.
This is exactly what happened to Yuri Loban, loaders' foreman at the «BelAZ» plant in Zhodino, Belarus. A perfect employment record and official acknowledgements didn't help to save his job. He was fired despite the protests of his co-workers.
REPAM demands reinstatement of Yuri Loban. The union urges an end to the violent suppression of union activists in Belarus and calls for establishing public control over police forces.