BREST, 21 October (BelTA) – The Brest Oblast Union of Trade Unions and the Federation of Trade Unions of Russia's Rostov Oblast signed a cooperation agreement, BelTA learned from the press service of the regional association.
The Rostov delegation came to Brest with this purpose. Actually, two regional trade union organizations of Belarus and Russia extended the agreement of 2017, making certain adjustments and additions to it. In particular, the parties intend to strengthen work at the level of sectoral trade unions. They are set to exchange experience on topical trade union problems online and in person in the post-COVID period.
"Unfortunately, the negative processes that developed in the Russian economy at the turn of the 2000s weakened a number of our sectoral trade unions. First of all, they affected the agricultural sector and construction and created certain difficulties in protecting the legal and socio-economic interests of workers. Brest Oblast has retained a fairly large trade union membership and this experience is important to us," said Aleksandr Lozychenko, Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Rostov Oblast.
The new agreement also focuses on the possibility of mutual use of health resorts of trade unions. The parties also agreed to coordinate their actions and positions in international matters, and if necessary, to provide legal and other assistance to members of trade unions of the other country on their territory.
"International cooperation is important for Belarusian trade unions. We are always ready to learn from others and to share our experience in a variety of areas. We have long-standing contacts with Rostov Oblast, and we will strengthen them. I am sure that the cooperation will be fruitful," Chairman of the Brest Oblast Association of Trade Unions Mikalai Shum noted.