22 February 2002
Unions in Brest region refuse to take part in March 5 protests
The regional trade union association in Brest has decided to take no part
in the protests that the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB) plans to stage on March 5.
Most participants at the association's February 18 meeting agreed that the March 5 protest was premature and that their local branches were not ready for it. "I have traveled a lot around the region lately, and I saw no support for this protest. People do not believe in demonstrations and rallies," said the association's leader, Vladimir Mironchik.
Those present did not discuss the FTUB's plan to stage a nationwide protest on March 28 against the government's recent ban on checkoffs of union dues. They did decide to prepare for future protests. It is possible, however, that union dues checkoffs will not be among the demands. "We should be the first to put forward demands for higher
living standards against rising prices and to say our 'No!' to lawlessness," Mr. Mironchik said. The region's light industry union and the union of local cultural workers will take no part in the protest
regardless of the date. "It has been decided to not to participate," said Yevgeniya Vlasyuk, leader of the cultural workers' union. Last week, her union also suspended dues transfers to the regional association and
the FTUB.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news164.html