Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions
Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions | |
Беларускі кангрэс дэмакратычных прафсаюзаў | |
Headquarters | Minsk |
---|---|
Location | |
Members | 15,000 |
Key people | Aliaksandr Yarashuk, President Siarhei Antusevich, Vice-President |
Affiliations | ITUC |
Website | http://www.bkdp.org/ |
The Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Unions (Belarusian: Беларускі кангрэс дэмакратычных прафсаюзаў, romanized: Byelaruski kanhres demakratychnyh prafsayuzaw, Russian: Белорусский Конгресс демократических профсоюзов) is a confederation and center of trade unions in Belarus. It has 15,000 members in 4 affiliated unions and its headquarters are located in Minsk.[1]
Affiliates
The following trade unions are currently affiliated to BKDP:
- Belarusian Independent Trade Union
- 'Byelaruski' Free Trade Union
- Free Metal Workers' Trade Union
- Belarusian Radio-Electrical Manufacturing Workers' Trade Union
History
BKDP was founded in 1993.[2]
In September 2020, during the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests, the Belarusian government arrested workers striking at Belaruskali. Some of the workers were members of BKDP affiliate Belarusian Independent Trade Union, including its vice-president.[3]
On April 7, 2022, the KGB declared the BKDP affiliate Belarusian Radio-Electrical Manufacturing Workers' Trade Union to be an extremist organisation. This was the first time that Belarusian authorities had designated a registered trade union as extremist. On April 19, law enforcement agencies raided the offices of BKDP and several affiliate unions. They confiscated computers, paperwork and union flags. BKDP president Aliaksandr Yarashuk, vice-president Siarhei Antusevich and other officials from BKDP and affiliated unions were also arrested.[2] The European Trade Union Confederation and the International Labour Organization condemned the arrests of the officials and demanded they be set free.[4][5]
References
- ^ ICTUR; et al., eds. (2005). Trade Unions of the World (6th ed.). London, UK: John Harper Publishing. ISBN 0-9543811-5-7.
- ^ a b "Belarus: trade union is declared an "extremist formation"" (Press release). 2022-04-21.
- ^ "Belarus: Government steps up effort to suppress strikes" (Press release). ITUC. 2020-09-17.
- ^ "Free the Belarus trade unionists" (Press release). ETUC. 2022-04-22.
- ^ "ILO Director-General calls for the release of Belarusian trade union leaders" (Press release). ILO. 2022-04-21.