External threats to union development in Belarus include aggressive new government policies, short-term work contracts, fabricated criminal cases against union leaders and activists, and other provocations from police and state bodies. The trade union movement is also weakened from within, amongst other things by a lack of clear trade union ideology, differences between different affiliates, and the aging of union members.

External threats to union development in Belarus include aggressive new government policies, short-term work contracts, fabricated criminal cases against union leaders and activists, and other provocations from police and state bodies. The trade union movement is also weakened from within, amongst other things by a lack of clear trade union ideology, differences between different affiliates, and the aging of union members. Independent unions in Belarus met in December 2009 in Minsk, to discuss threats to union development, and to elaborate strategies to counter this. The participants discussed solidarity campaigns as a means to protect union activists.

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