Lithuanian customs officers work in regime of "Italian strike"

Euroradio visited one of the border crossing points at the Belarusian-Lithuanian border the night before the strike began. The queue is very long for this day of the week.

Alyaksej says that he chose the day of his trip to Vilnius - June 20 - on purpose, as he knew about the strike on June 21.

Alyaksej : "I knew and I warned all of my friends. My cousin has a company in Lithuania - he conducts freight traffic activity, so I warned him, so that he could cross the border the day before or take a one-day rest. I went there today as it was exactly the 8th day since my previous trip, but if this day coincided with June 21, I wouldn't go anywhere, I would better wait. As it is unknown what to expect - maybe it would take the whole day just waiting". 

He assures the Lithuanians of his moral support of their struggle for better salaries. He says that probably they will pass the queue faster in such case. It is known that the Lithuanian customs officers demand to increase their salaries by one third. 

There are many Lithuanians in the queue as well. However, unlike Belarusians, who actively discuss the strike of the customs officers, the Lithuanians know nothing about it!

The driver of the VW Passat, called "petrol transporter" by the people, is surprised with the information about the strike but says he understands it.

The driver of the VW Passat: "If we speak about freedom, then it's up to them to go on strike or not. When life gets hard, and this is the case of any of us, the state should be pressed to do something for the people, not just for itself".

The driver of a cool Audi agrees with his countryman.

The driver of the Audi: "We have close to no strikes in Lithuania - they can be counted by the fingers. Everyone is satisfied with everything while the state does what it wants! In this case, the strike is inconvenient for me, but I support them, in fact".

Euroradio: "Today you support the customs officers in their desire to protect their rights with the help of a strike, but what would your reaction be if you came to the border tomorrow, knowing nothing about it?"

The driver of the Audi: "Of course my reaction would be negative then. However, I do understand that everyone has got a family to support, and here, at such a position, they want to prevent corruption... Something should be done regardless of whether anyone wants it or not". 

Both drivers are convinced that the customs officers are not likely to achieve something from the authorities by their strike. According to some information, today's salary of a Lithuanian customs officer makes 400 euros. 

Besides, as Euroradio informed before, the salary of the "newbie" Belarusian customs officer is about 130 euros, not including bonuses and extra payments. At the same time, head of the press-center of the Belarusian Customs Committee Alyaksandr Tsishchanka states: they will never go on strike, letting down ordinary people who went somewhere for a trip.

Alyaksandr Tsishchanka: "We do not let ourselves behave like this. What do the citizens have to do with this? How can we let the people down trying to obtain some preferences or salary increases? The citizens who cross the border have nothing to do with this."

The Lithuanian customs officers refuse to give any comments about the strike. They only say that they will work, but will follow all working instructions carefully and slowly.

Head of the press-center of the Belarusian Customs Committee Alyaksandr Tsishchanka explains that the Lithuanians will work in accordance with the normatives, regardless of the queue.

Alyaksandr Tsishchanka: "My advice is to postpone the trip or to bypass. The work is going on there, but slowly. They have certain normatives, and they will carefully stick to them, regardless of the queue".

According to the information provided by the Customs Committee, there was a queue of 50 automobiles and 160 trucks at the border crossing point "Kamenny Log" at 10 a.m. This will really take a whole day of work.

Photo: bymedia.net