Babruisk official invites hunger strikes for lunch?

The chairman of the Babruisk city executive committee invited members of the Free Trade Union, who went on a hunger strike protesting against their dismissal, for a meeting.

“The protesters were invited by phone to visit Andrei Kavalenka, the chairman of city executive committee, on November 12,” Mikhail Kavalkou, the head of the trade union department at the plant of tractor parts and units, told Salidarnasts. “As far as I know, he receives visitors on Wednesday.”

It's interesting that the meeting will be held during lunchtime at the city executive committee – at 13:00.

According to Kavalkou, librarian Sviatlana Hrytsenka joined the hunger strike of the fired workers.

“She knows what it means to be fired. Her employment agreement was not prolonged, but she was later reinstated at work. Sviatlana is not a member of our trade union, but she decided to show solidarity with the workers,” Mikhail Kavalkou says.

As of November 11, Mikahlai Zhybul, Aleh Shauchenka, Aliaksandr Varankin and Aliaksandr Hramyka hold the hunger strike. The workers were dismissed from the plant of tractor parts and units after their employment agreements were not prolonged. Plant worker Aksana Kernazhitskaya joined the hunger strike on November 10 to support her co-workers.

One protester had to stop the hunger strike for medical reasons. Maintenance operator Henadz Labachou had a hypertensive crisis at work on Monday.

Mikhail Kavalkou says on the evening of November 10, police officers handed in summonses to the protesters saying they must visit a police station.

A police colonel expelled the workers from the building of the city executive committee on November 5.

They suspended the hunger strike for the weekend and resumed it on November 10. Four protesters and trade union leader Mikhail Kavalkou were taken to a police station. They were warned about responsibility for unsanctioned protests.