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Global union demands end to Belarus attacks on independent unions
TONY BURKE reports on the increasing number of instances of harassment and repression of trade union organisers
IndustriALL pckets outside Belarus mission in Geneva
[www.industriall-union.org] 
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THE giant global trade union IndustriALL — representing manufacturing and energy workers — has reported increased repression against the Belarus independent trade union the Free Metal Workers (SPM, which is affiliated to IndustriALL) and its members who have faced dismissals and detention, with some forced to flee Belarus to avoid prosecution.
IndustriALL reports that almost all SPM local union chairs were fired from their companies, including Minsk Automobile Plant (MAZ), BELAZ, Minsk Tractor Works (MTW), BKM Holding: Minsk Motor Plant (MMP: Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant and Minsk Electrotechnical Plant).
On November 17 last year, the local SPM chair at MAZ, Artyom Zhernak was detained by the state security committee and his apartment was searched twice. Zhernak remains in custody.
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