September

1999

Information message

20.09.99 The Free trade union of the citizens, businessmen and people working on hiring of the Ware market "Zhdanovichy" (Minsk) was registered.

21.09.99 at 11.00 in Grodno at the market "Southern" and unauthorised action and meeting organised by urban and regional authorities, management of the market and Ministry of business and investments were held. The total number of participants was more than 00 men.

The bodies of militia did not undertake  any measures to prevent this action and meeting. The authorities promised the businessmen that all their proposals (including the project of the decree offered by Valery Levonevsky) will be reviewed and solution on them will be accepted. Before taking a decision the punitive measures foreseen by decree №14 will not be applied. The authorities stated that they need time to consider the proposals of the free trade union of the businessmen and asked the businessmen to start working from 25.09.99. The businessmen of Grodno stated that they agree to give chance to the authorities to correct the errors and to suspend the irredeemable strike from 1.10.99.

The question was put to vote. For the proposal of the authorities voted only three participants of the meeting.

Despite of this businessmen of Grodno decided to give the next chance to the authorities and to start working from 1.10.99. We hope that we will not be deceived in the next time. The businessmen of Grodno stated that they will conduct the weekly one-day actions of the protest and reserve the right to themselves to initiate the all-republican strike from 1.11.99.

22.09.99 the preventive one-day all- republican strike organised by the strike committee of the leaders of businessmen’s structures and organisations (free and independent trade unions of the businessmen) was held.

The main requirements of the strikers: cancellation of point 1.22 of decree №14, acceptance of the decree offered by the Grodno Free Trade union of the Businessmen (published in the bulletin "Businessman" №24) in a full volume, cancellation of obligatory certification and hygienic registration on small batches of the goods (up to 100 units), cancellation of obligatory slip system when goods are realised, cancellation of broad explanation of «the hidden income», cancellation of criminal prosecution of the businessmen for small repeated "breaches of the law", invariable rates of fixed tax counted in dollars of the USA etc. (see the bulletin "Businessman").

Despite of reaction of the state trade union "Sadruzhnosts" which invoked the businessmen not to support the Free trade union and start working from 22.09.99, the action was a success. More than 70 % of the businessmen trading at the markets of the Republic of Belarus do not work (everywhere where the information about the strike was got. Practically all regional and district centres did not work). In the "den" of the trade union "Sadruzhnosts", at the ware market of the Minsk stadium "Dynamo" where positions of this trade union were thought of as the strongest and where the greatest propaganda activity against the strike was conducted nobody from businessmen worked.

22.09.99 the constituent assembly of the Free Trade union Belorussky of citizens, businessmen and people working on hiring of the ware market of the stadium "Dynamo" was held. As for 22.09.99 in all markets of Minsks have got free trade unions of the businessmen or initiative groups to create these trade unions. There is a preparation to create the republican trade union of the businessmen. 30.09.99 (Thursday) the next one-day all-republican actions of the protest are carried out. All markets of the republic stop their work for one day, one-day actions will be conducted 3-4 times per one month.

The peculiarity of this action of the protest is that that alongside with the requirements which have been set up above the businessmen support the requirements of workers (wide meetings of workers on 30.09.99 are intended) and together with them will go out to streets.

The sitting of the strike committee and meetings with the representatives of the authorities are planned on 27.09.99 in Minsk. After the sitting of the strike committee the press conference is planned.

The chairman of the strike committee, chairman of the initiative group on creation of the republican trade union of the businessmen, member of the Council of FTUB

Valery Levonevsky

On photos:

22.09.99, 10.30. Minsk. The market "Zhdanovichy”. The strike. The runs of buses are cancelled. It is empty. Usually at this place the lively trade is conducted…

22.09.99. 11.20. Minsks. The ware market "Dynamo". The strike. It is empty. The buyers consult where to go to buy something. There is no place. All markets strike…

From the editors

Dear businessmen!

We are grateful to you for your active participation in the 22.09.99 strike. Our special thanks are to the citizens of Minsk, active workers of initiative groups and free trade unions of the businessmen.

You showed that it is possible and it is necessary to work with you. Many from you have seen what organised actions of the businessmen mean. The long struggle for our economical rights and legitimate interests is necessary for us. Only together we can achieve something. Be more active joining to the all-republican movement of the businessmen organised by our initiative group. Our separate thanks are to the businessmen of Grodno and Grodno region who for the first time showed to the authorities what a month of strike is and what trade unions are. We are grateful to all our businessmen who stopped that day all regional centres, cities and small settlements. Be united, support us. Once again – we are grateful to everybody!!!

Meetings 20.09.99 the working meeting of A. Vasiliev who acts in the capacity of the chairman of the Grodno free trade union of the businessmen and Maria Alieva, chairman of the Belorussian organization of the working women (BOWW) (see a photo …) was held. The agreement on rendering of financial and other help to BOWW by the Grodno businessmen is concluded. The businessmen of Grodno together with BOWW decided to conduct a number of the joint charitable stocks. Originally businessmen gave more than 100 pairs of children's footwear for children in the age up to 3 years. The parts agreed to transfer the experience of the Grodno businessmen on all cities. The actions “Our city” will be conducted everywhere in the republic.

Notice: Grodno businessmen, Grodno organisation of BOWW, United Civil Party conducted together a number of the charitable actions (21.07.99 and 15.08.99). The result of this action is that in Grodno more than 6.000 balls, ice-cream, sweet, pens were given to children. More than 400 children free of charge rolled on merries – do rounds. More than 400 families (those where a lot of children are brought up, mother who bring up their children alone, needy) received serious help in clothes and footwear.

At the same day A. Vasiliev visited the edition of the newspaper "Worker". There he met with the management and workers of this newspaper. The purpose of the visit was to get acquainted with the founders of the newspaper, to discuss the joint projects and current problems. The businessmen of Grodno for a long time are friends of this newspaper. The free trade union of the businessmen renders help in the distribution of this newspaper. Due to this issue only in Grodno for the last half a year two Free trade unions at firms and Urban organisation of the working women including 5 primary organisations which unite more than 100 members were created. A. Vasiliev wished to the newspaper "Worker" to increase the circulation as only for Grodno it is necessary to treble the deliveries of this newspaper.

On a photo: a piece of the meeting of A. Vasiliev with Irina Zhikhar the vice-editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Worker”.

22.09.99 the working meeting of Valery Levonevsky and Victor Baboed, the president of the Belorussian Congress of the Democratic Trade Unions (BCDTU) (see photo…) The sides discussed a number of questions to unite forces of independent and free trade unions to create the republican trade union of the businessmen and further co-operation of the businessmen with BCDTU.

At the meeting the problems connected with the realisation of the joint actions of the protest of workers and businessmen were also discussed. Between the businessmen, BCDTU and independent trade unions a number of the arrangements is reached.