GERMAN TRADE UNIONS EXPRESS SOLIDARITY WITH INDEPENDENT TRADE UNION MOVEMENT OF BELARUS
In Berlin BKDP leader Alexander Yaroshuk met Michael Sommer, President of Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), and other representatives of state and public institutions of Germany.
In Berlin BKDP leader Alexander Yaroshuk met Michael Sommer, President of Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB), and other officials of state and social bodies of Germany.
In the period of March 20-22, 2012 the BKDP leader Alexander Yaroshuk paid a working visit to Berlin. The trip was organized by Fridrich Ebert Foundation. This fact is another proof that in the face of this Foundation the Belarus independent union movement has a good friend and a reliable partner.
The program suggested by the organizers was quite intensive and interesting. It started in the premises of the FES with the meeting of Alexander Yaroshuk with nearly 20 people representing different state and social bodies of Germany including Bundestag, Government, trade unions, Belarus-German Good Fellowship Association and other institutions. They used the opportunity of receiving at first hand the information on latest developments taking place in Belarus which attract attention of international community including German society too. For more than two hours the BKDP President had to answers to various questions of those present.
The tense schedule of the trip also involved meetings with Social-Democratic Party (SPD), Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as with Confederation of German Trade Unions (DGB). In the DGB head-quarters Alexander Yaroshuk was received by the DGB President Michael Sommer, one of the most prominent and respected leaders in the world trade union movement who is at the moment is acting also as President of International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Michael Sommer and Alexander Yaroshuk
Sincere and comradely tone of the conversation was set by Michael Sommer. He declared that he” is watching very closely the next escalation of the situation with trade union rights in Belarus and assured that he will use all his influence as the leader of German and international unions for the protection of his Belarusian colleagues, who suffer from tough pressure, harassment and threats on the part of the authorities’.
“For me it is a professional and a human duty. I’m proud of what the members and the leaders of independent unions in Belarus are doing to defend basic rights of workers and their organizations and I admire your courage and firmness. You may be sure, Alexander, and tell it to your colleagues and comrades that the world trade union movement, including German unions, has enough means and capacities to ensure your safety and to divert from you the threat of reprisal against you and your colleagues.” – stated Michael Sommer.
Alexander Yaroshuk and Michael Sommer discussed concrete assistance program the DGB will render to BKDP and agreed upon the action plan of supporting independent national union centre using the capacities of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and entire international trade union movement.
| 26.03.2012 |
|  Print version
|
