Strike Works: Homiel Trade Centre Administration Drops Plans to Increase Rental
29.10.2012 / 16:8
The administration of a shopping center in Homiel has abandoned its plans to increase the rent rate from between €45 and €55 to €120 per square meter for the nearly 400 stallholders.
The administration has backed down after a one-day walkout staged by some of the vendors earlier this month and intervention by the Pierspiektyva small business association and the Homiel City Executive Committee.
The city authorities warned the new owner of the shopping center, a private company called TDA NP-Servis, that there were no grounds for such a dramatic increase.
As a result, the rent rate has been raised by only 10 per cent, while the utility bills paid by the stallholders have been reduced by 20 to 25 per cent.
Pierspiektyva leader Anatol Shumchanka told BelaPAN that 46 vendors had refused to join the walkout and accepted the rent increase by signing new contracts with the owner. They have already been told that the contracts will not be terminated and they will have to pay the much higher rate.
“This is an example to all that in a dispute it's very important to fight for the rights together instead of signing contracts in secrecy,” Shumchanka said.