Radio France Internationale: Belarusian Union Of Workers Declares Nationwide Strike

Lukashenka's regime is weak and helpless.

The Belarusian Union of Workers has stated that the demands of the movement, put forward to the Belarusian authorities on August 30, are not being met. Starting from November 1, 2021, BOR will stop "enterprises throughout the country until each of the ten demands is met," reports RFI.

The main demands of the Belarusian Union of Workers are to stop political repression, raise wages, start negotiations on a peaceful transfer of power to democratic forces with the participation of labor leaders, observe the constitutional rights of citizens, provide access to vaccination against COVID-19, normalize relations with neighboring countries and stop the "hybrid war" with the West involving illegal migrants.

The association is headed by Siarhei Dyleuski, a member of the presidium of the Coordinating Council, a former worker at the Minsk Tractor Plant, one of the leaders of workers' protests against the results of the 2020 presidential election and the violence of the authorities against peaceful protests.

"It's time for workers to take the future into their own hands. We have no right to keep waiting while our relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms are in jail, while our mothers and sisters, brothers and fathers are dying in overcrowded hospitals from the coronavirus. (...) We cannot allow our country to be sold out by signing integration action plans! We are ready to change our country, we are ready to say "Enough is enough!", we are ready to hammer the last nail in the coffin of the regime! We, the Belarusian Union of Workers, declare the beginning of a nationwide strike from November 1, 2021! We will stop factories all over the country until each of the ten demands is met!" BOR said in the Oct. 25 statement.

"Let's stop feeding the regime, let's stop going to work! Let's stay home. This is how we will defend our country, bring law and justice back into it. This is the only way we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the epidemic that has come down to our homes. The regime is weaker and more helpless than ever, the sanctions are killing the Lukashenka economy even before they are in full force! But the main hope lies with you. Only together will we return power in the country to the people!"