"Response to strike massive, minister must go"

BELGRADE Thursday's warning strike has demonstrated that workers do not want reforms to be carried out in the way proposed by Minister of Economy Sasa Radulovic. This is what organizers, the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) and United Branch Trade Unions Independence, told a news conference. "Response to strike massive, minister must go" "I thank the minister - the unifier. No trade union leader, nor any minister in the history of Serbia, has ever achieved such success," SSSS leader Ljubisav Orbovic said. About 90 percent of companies - around 530,000 employees at public and some private enterprises - participated in the strike, Orbovic added. In some companies, such as Post of Serbia and Serbian Railways, there was pressure from the managements to cancel the strike or maintain minimal work, but the strike did go ahead in spite of this, the leaders of the two unions said. They reiterated the demand that Radulovic be dismissed and that the Serbian government appoint competent persons who would take part in work on amendments to the labour bill, and also urged a return to social dialogue. The Ministry of Labor - which has proposed the bill - must get more involved in the amendments, United Branch Trade Unions Independence leader Branislav Canak said. Representatives of the unions cautioned last week that unless the demands of the trade unions are met, blockades will be set up in cities, culminating in large-scale protests in the capital. Earlier this week, Radulovic said that withdrawing the proposed laws would mean the government abandoning reform, which PM Ivica Dacic denied, saying that the government is not stopping reforms, that the contested laws have not been withdrawn and that they will be discussed additionally with trade union and employer representatives, Beta reported. (Beta) Beta Tanjug

"Response to strike massive, minister must go"

"I thank the minister - the unifier. No trade union leader, nor any minister in the history of Serbia, has ever achieved such success," SSSS leader Ljubisav Orbović said.

About 90 percent of companies - around 530,000 employees at public and some private enterprises - participated in the strike, Orbović added.

In some companies, such as Post of Serbia and Serbian Railways, there was pressure from the managements to cancel the strike or maintain minimal work, but the strike did go ahead in spite of this, the leaders of the two unions said.

They reiterated the demand that Radulović be dismissed and that the Serbian government appoint competent persons who would take part in work on amendments to the labour bill, and also urged a return to social dialogue.

The Ministry of Labor - which has proposed the bill - must get more involved in the amendments, United Branch Trade Unions Independence leader Branislav Čanak said.

Representatives of the unions cautioned last week that unless the demands of the trade unions are met, blockades will be set up in cities, culminating in large-scale protests in the capital.

Earlier this week, Radulović said that withdrawing the proposed laws would mean the government abandoning reform, which PM Ivica Dačić denied, saying that the government is not stopping reforms, that the contested laws have not been withdrawn and that they will be discussed additionally with trade union and employer representatives, Beta reported.