Blood donors begin a nation-wide warning strike
Blood donors in Mahiliou, Homelk, Brest and Minsk today launched a warning strike to express protests against the abolishment of benefits for honorable donors, passed by the Belarusian lawmakers. Under the new legislation, blood donors are deprived of benefits for dentist's services, recreation, the 50-percent reduction for drug prices and the 40-percent pension bonus.
According to the Belarus's honorable donor Igar Kavalenka, over 500 walked out in Mahiliou alone. He noted that the authorities did not engage in a dialogue with the striking donors. At the same time, Kavalenka believes that this warning strike is unlikely to yield any useful results. Therefore, blood donors are set to establish a coordination council in order to continue with protest actions.
Kavalenka: "We need to set up a coornidation council which will comprise donor activists from various cities. We need to get together and discuss what to do next.
He also told the European Radio for Belarus that the blood donors passed their appeal to the Belarus's Healthcare Minister Vasil Zharko on June 14, the Day of Donors, requesing to preserve benefits for donors.
Kavalenka also plans to start collecting signatures under an appeal to the country's president, requesting to preserve their benefits. He stressed that even a warning strike would become a serious challenge for blood transfusion stations.
Kavalenka: "300-500 donors usually come there, and it is not enough. What happens if only a half or less comes? It will be a very serious challenge for the blood stations".
According to the Belarus's honorable donor Igar Kavalenka, over 500 walked out in Mahiliou alone. He noted that the authorities did not engage in a dialogue with the striking donors. At the same time, Kavalenka believes that this warning strike is unlikely to yield any useful results. Therefore, blood donors are set to establish a coordination council in order to continue with protest actions.
Kavalenka: "We need to set up a coornidation council which will comprise donor activists from various cities. We need to get together and discuss what to do next.
He also told the European Radio for Belarus that the blood donors passed their appeal to the Belarus's Healthcare Minister Vasil Zharko on June 14, the Day of Donors, requesing to preserve benefits for donors.
Kavalenka also plans to start collecting signatures under an appeal to the country's president, requesting to preserve their benefits. He stressed that even a warning strike would become a serious challenge for blood transfusion stations.
Kavalenka: "300-500 donors usually come there, and it is not enough. What happens if only a half or less comes? It will be a very serious challenge for the blood stations".
