For many years, IG Metall has supported the work of the human rights organization Amnesty International to protect trade unionists worldwide from persecution and secure the release of those who have been imprisoned. As a symbol of this partnership, delegates at the IG Metall convention on Thursday donated 60,000 euros to Amnesty International.
The newly elected IG Metall President Christiane Benner and Vice President Jürgen Kerner presented a check to Markus Beeko, the Secretary General of Amnesty International Germany. Beeko highlighted the joint network between IG Metall and Amnesty International, which has been in place since 2020. The organization investigates cases of persecution against trade unionists worldwide and advocates for their protection or release from detention.
Fear for Life and Limb
“Trade union rights are human rights. Solidarity unites us in our shared commitment,” Beeko emphasized during the donation ceremony. He thanked all metalworkers who are active in the network supporting persecuted trade unionists. “You are there when you are needed; you bring this issue to the forefront in workplaces and in the public sphere. Thank you very much for this important work,” said Beeko.
With the demand #FreeThem, the union congress sent a strong message.
The situation for workers worldwide is dire. Twenty-eight million people are subjected to forced labor; an estimated three million of them are children. The right to freedom of expression and association is also under pressure worldwide, said Jürgen Kerner. “This makes the joint commitment of IG Metall and Amnesty International all the more important—to ensure that union work is possible without having to fear for one’s life or limb.”
Belarus is a key focus of support for persecuted trade unionists. Under the hashtag #FreeThem, delegates at the IG Metall trade union congress sent a strong message and called for the release of over 50 imprisoned trade unionists in Belarus. Since the protests against the rigging of the Belarusian presidential election in August 2020, the regime there has continued to intensify its repression. Representatives of the independent labor movement in Belarus are among those affected:
- Volha Brytsikava, chairwoman of the Independent Union at the Naftan oil refinery. She is charged with inciting a coup, high treason, and terrorism. She faces up to six years in prison.
- Polina Sharenda-Panasiuk, an activist with the Radioelectronic Industry Workers’ Union (REP), was sentenced to three years in prison. During an attack, she suffered a broken nose, broken ribs, and a bruised kidney.
- Aliaksandr Yarashuk, 72, was sentenced to four years in prison. He is the president of the Congress of Democratic Trade Unions of Belarus. He has been subjected to harsher prison conditions.
- Vasil Berasnieu, 73, acting chairman of the REP, was sentenced to nine years in prison. He suffers from severe kidney disease and urgently needs a kidney transplant.
- Henadz Fiadynich, 66, former chairman of the REP, was sentenced to nine years in prison.
- Vatslau Areshka, 68, editor of the REP’s union newspaper, was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Prison conditions in Belarus are harsh. All prisoners are forced to work six days a week, even if they are over 70 years old.
The IG Metall Union Congress, together with Markus Beeko, demands: Free them! #Free them!
In addition, IG Metall and Amnesty International are advocating for trade unionists in other countries. An urgent campaign by Amnesty International is currently dedicated to these trade unionists in Venezuela:
- Guillermo Zárraga, an engineer and labor union activist in the oil industry. He was arbitrarily detained in November 2020 and convicted of alleged crimes for which there was no evidence.
- Emirlendris Benítez is also being unlawfully detained. Her life and mental health are at risk because she is subjected to torture, gender-based violence, discrimination, and inhumane conditions of detention.
Please support Amnesty International’s urgent action and stand up for Emirlendris Benítez and Guillermo Zárraga via the Amnesty International website.
More information on the “Freedom of Association International” initiative
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