Since May 2011 two towns in Western Kazakhstan have been seeing protest actions in the oil sector that still involve thousands of workers. Massive lay-offs have hit over a thousand workers, affecting their families, their children. Some of the protest action participants suffered detention, disciplinary punishments, and criminal prosecution, including Natalya Sokolova, a union legal officer, who was sentenced to 6 years in prison for so-called “incitement to social animosity”. This sentence creates a dangerous precedent for the whole trade union movement in the country and has been widely denounced by trade union and human rights organisations from all over the world.
The Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Kazakhstan, supported by international trade union organisations, is campaigning for the resolution of the conflict.
To President of Republic of Kazakhstan Mr. Nursultan Nazarbaev
Dear Mister President,
It is with grave concern that we follow the developments in Western Kazakhstan where a regular labour dispute concerning an increase of wages at the oil industry facilities has grown to become a bitter political conflict. This conflict involves thousands of workers, bringing suffering to their families, their children.
We appeal to You, Mr. President, to use all Your influence to facilitate the speedy resolution of the conflict, ensuring:
repeal of all disciplinary and other measures taken against the striking workers by the employer;
creation of conditions for a constructive dialogue within the striking workers’ collectives that would allow the workers to elect their representatives without any interference from the employer or various political forces;
creation of conditions for resuming the collective bargaining process that would involve trade union organisations as well as other representative bodies elected by the workers;
immediate investigation to identify those who put out a contract for and executed the assassination of Zhaksylyk Turbaev and Zhansaule Karabalayeva;
unbiased revision of the Natalya Sokolava case.
We are convinced that You shall also be prepared to step in as a guarantor of legal and social justice for people of Kazakhstan who implement their right to collective action in pursuit of higher standards and better living conditions.
Respectfully Yours,
To sign and send:
http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1100