BITU members at BMZ report threats of dismissals, including fixed-term contracts not being extended.
On 21 January, BMZ fired the local union chairman Vadzim Laptsik and Dzmitry Yafremau, member of the union auditing commission. Yafremau was fired for being absent from work, despite a police certificate proving his arrest for the August protests.
Hanna Kalupakho, one of the eleven founding members, was asked to resign in August and was subsequently fired on 1 February.
The local union of BITU at BMZ has still not been registered by authorities, nor recognized by the employer.
“We need international solidarity as our members at BMZ are subject to intimidation and reprisals. The workers wanted to enjoy freedom of association and establish a local BITU union, but in response, BMZ management decided to fire them or punish in other ways. And instead of protecting its citizens’ human and workers’ rights, Belarusian authorities have launched criminal investigation against three