Trade Unions Remain a Key Pillar of Civil Society in CIS Countries – Viktor Pinsky
Viktor Pinsky, Secretary General of the General Confederation of Trade Unions and Deputy of the Russian State Duma, spoke at a May Day demonstration in the Republic of Belarus.
The demands of trade unions are simple and clear: jobs, labor protection, decent wages, and guarantees in case of disability, Viktor Pinsky believes.
"On May 1, trade unions around the world bring workers to the streets to show their strength and unity in defending workers' rights. Our demands are simple and clear: we need jobs, labor protection, decent wages, and guarantees in case of disability. The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus stands guard over the interests of the republic's workers. It reliably protects labor, cares about improving workers' welfare, and raises issues of labor protection and the rights of older workers and working women. Trade unions have been and remain one of the main pillars of civil society throughout the CIS, and a special focus on the working person is what unites our countries," Viktor Pinsky said today at the Labor Day celebration in Minsk, Republic of Belarus.
The festive events in Minsk began with the laying of flowers at the "Minsk – Hero City" stele. Representatives of labor collectives, the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the Government, ministries, and departments, as well as the leadership of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, took part in the ceremony. Over 20,000 people participated in the celebrations in Minsk.
Events dedicated to May 1 have been taking place for a week in the CIS countries. In Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, trade unions have organized marathons, community clean-up days, collective meetings, and demonstrations.
GCTU News
-
GCTU Discusses Amendments to Confederation’s Charter
On September 15, Moscow hosted a meeting of the Working Group on Preparing Amendments and Additions to the Charter of the General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU) at the Trade Unions Palace of Labor. Participants reviewed proposals from member organizations regarding necessary changes to the Confederation’s founding document.
-
Wage Standards in the CIS Must Reach a New Level
On September 10, the General Confederation of Trade Unions (GCTU) launched the development of a unified methodology for calculating the minimum consumer budget. The first meeting of the GCTU Executive Committee’s temporary working group on this initiative took place in Moscow.
-
A Unified Registry of Collective Agreements Should Be Established in the CIS
A unified registry of collective agreements in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will enable the regulation of labor relations at a cross-border level, according to the General Confederation of Trade Unions. The proposal by GCTU to include the creation of such a registry in the draft Plan of Activities for the Year of Social Development and Quality of Life in the CIS was approved by participants of the working group of the Advisory Council on Labor, Employment, and Social Protection of the Population of the CIS Member States. The working group meeting took place today at the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk, using video conferencing.