14 December 2001
Brest region unions against suspending dialogue with authorities despite their misunderstanding of social partnership basics
Participants at a conference of the Brest Regional Trade Union Association (BRTUA) on December 13 spoke against suspending "a social dialogue" with the local authorities, but criticized region governor Vasily Dolgolyov for "misunderstanding social partnership basics".
Speakers at the conference noted tensions in BRTUA's relations with the local authorities. "The unions policy is aimed at maintaining good relations with the authorities and associations of employers," said BRTUA Chairman Vladimir Mirochnik. "But we cannot but notice that many agreements have a declarative and formal nature." He expressed regret that the regional government does not allow trade unionists to attend its meetings and that only the leaders of four unions most loyal to the authorities were invited to a meeting with the Belarusian ruler in
November. "One can call these facts a deliberate distortion of social partnership basics," Mr. Mirochnik said. Asked about the reasons for strained relations with the authorities, Mr. Mirochnik told BelaPAN, "Dolgolyov does not understand what is social partnership and the authorities constantly put pressure on trade unions." Having classified trade union dues as non-urgent payments, the authorities undermined unions' financial position, he added. "Many regional and grass-root organizations fight for survival. There are even three vacant high posts in the union -- people quit because of low salaries."
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