Worker fired out for question at Lukashenka’s website
- 13.01.2012, 11:31
A contract with a worker of Termoplast plant in Rechytsa was not prolonged after he asked a question at the website of Lukashenka’s administration.
A worker of Rechytsa-based enterprise Termoplast Dzyanis Stepanenka used his civil right and through the website of Lukashenka’s administration and asked a number of questions to the Belarusian leader. However the administration of his plant was displeased by that, he said. The plant management started to exert pressure on him, and later they stated that they would not prolong labour contract with him.
When Euroradio directly asked Termoplast director Ryhor Vasilets, whether the complaints to Lukashenka’s administration were the reason for Stsepanenka’s dismissal, the CEO of the plant answered:
“If you had a chance to talk to him and read his complaints, you would understand that he is an insane man. But he has a right to write, let him write. I do not pay attention to his complaints.”
In response Dzyanis Stsepanenka read out the full text of his address to Lukashenka.
“Why do I have such a small salary? Is it legal that workers at the plant are working four days a week for a year and a half? Why pensioners who had worked at the enterprise for 35 years are dismissed, and those who worked less than a year and are irresponsible, are kept at their positions?”
In his letter the worker also noted that he refused to participate in tidying up in villages under the patronage of Termoplast, as hard drinkers live there, they do not work and must clean everything themselves. However, Dzyanis Stsepanenka has not been given concrete answers to his questions.
Soon the worker started to feel pressure on the part of Termoplast administration:
“They started to exert pressure on me. They asked why I wrote that, why I raise scandals, they said I interfere with the work of other people. In a few days I was warned that the contract with me would not be prolonged as it has expired. I wrote that I do not agree.”
Ryhor Vasilyets, the director of the enterprise explains the dismissal in a different way. As said by him, the contract would not be extended because of staff optimization, and secondly Dzyanis violated labour discipline.
Dzyanis Stsepanenka believes he worked conscionably, besides he takes an active part in the community work of Termoplast. He is not going to stay idle. He will defend his rights and demand to be reinstated in his position.
“I will go to court with a request to reinstate me in my job. I am ready to go to the Supreme Court, and to the European Court on Human Rights if necessary.”
To the question why he wants to stay at the plant while the wages do not satisfy him Stsepanenka answers that he enjoys his work, and it is not easy to find such a position in Rechytsa.