Trade Unions Remain a Key Pillar of Civil Society in CIS Countries – Viktor Pinsky
Viktor Pinsky, Secretary General of the General Confederation of Trade Unions and Deputy of the Russian State Duma, spoke at a May Day demonstration in the Republic of Belarus.
The demands of trade unions are simple and clear: jobs, labor protection, decent wages, and guarantees in case of disability, Viktor Pinsky believes.
"On May 1, trade unions around the world bring workers to the streets to show their strength and unity in defending workers' rights. Our demands are simple and clear: we need jobs, labor protection, decent wages, and guarantees in case of disability. The Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus stands guard over the interests of the republic's workers. It reliably protects labor, cares about improving workers' welfare, and raises issues of labor protection and the rights of older workers and working women. Trade unions have been and remain one of the main pillars of civil society throughout the CIS, and a special focus on the working person is what unites our countries," Viktor Pinsky said today at the Labor Day celebration in Minsk, Republic of Belarus.
The festive events in Minsk began with the laying of flowers at the "Minsk – Hero City" stele. Representatives of labor collectives, the Administration of the President of the Republic of Belarus, the Government, ministries, and departments, as well as the leadership of the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus, took part in the ceremony. Over 20,000 people participated in the celebrations in Minsk.
Events dedicated to May 1 have been taking place for a week in the CIS countries. In Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, trade unions have organized marathons, community clean-up days, collective meetings, and demonstrations.
GCTU News
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For trade unions, March 8 is not just a day of spring and renewal.
For trade unions, March 8 is not just a day of spring and renewal.
For trade unions, March 8 is not merely a day of spring and renewal. Above all, it is an opportunity to once again reflect on the role of women in the world of work and in global development as a whole. Today, women perform 55% of the world’s total labor. They work longer hours than men—by 6 to 13 hours per week—and still earn less: on average, women’s wages amount to 66–84% of men’s wages, depending on the country. There is objective evidence that the more a country values women’s labor and the smaller the gender pay gap, the more developed its economy. A special issue is the “invisibility” of women’s domestic and, as experts call it, reproductive labor. This is why trade unions should continue to fight for justice for working women.
I congratulate all women of the CIS, my colleagues in the parliamentary corps, and women in trade unions on International Women’s Day. I wish you justice, decent work, success, and prosperity!
Viktor Pinsky
General Secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions, Member of the State Duma
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General Confederation of Trade Unions Proposes Securing Trade Union Rights in Enterprise Bankruptcy
General Confederation of Trade Unions Proposes Securing Trade Union Rights in Enterprise Bankruptcy
The General Confederation of Trade Unions’ (GCTU) proposals are reflected in the draft CIS model law “On Cross-Border Insolvency and Bankruptcy.”
Trade unions must have the right to represent and protect workers’ interests in the bankruptcy of international companies, according to Viktor Pinsky, Member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and General Secretary of the GCTU.
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GCTU Launches International Educational Program “Regulation of Labor Relations Based on Social Dialogue Principles”
GCTU Launches International Educational Program “Regulation of Labor Relations Based on Social Dialogue Principles”
The program is designed for specialists and trade union activists involved in collective bargaining at all levels of social partnership. It consists of four modules and will include about two hundred participants from six countries.
The first module—a lecture session—will be held on March 3, 2026. Leading experts from the General Confederation of Trade Unions, educational organizations of four national trade union centers (Belarus, Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, and Uzbekistan), and Lomonosov Moscow State University will deliver lectures.