Road workers union rep warns of new crisis

A delegation of the Independent Union of Road Workers is asking to be received by PM Mirko Cvetkovic - in order to avert new, "radical protests". The five companies warning they would once again stage protests belong to the troubled Nibens Group. Road workers union rep warns of new crisis Union leader Sonja Vukadinovic told B92 that despite making promises several weeks ago, the government in the meantime "did nothing to fulfill them". "Should this meeting take place, we expect to hear from the prime minister about their intentions, whether they intend to deal with the problem at all, or if they'll just drag their feet. Time is not working in our favor. The building season is passing, therefore unless something happens in the next 10-15 days these companies are dead, it will be the end for them," said she. Vukadinovic warned that Nibens' 5,200 workers were ready to take "radical measures", and described them as people "with nothing to lose". In case a meeting with the prime minister fails, they will start blocking the international Corridor 10, starting on Tuesday. "If we were to receive firm guarantees that there will be some kind of reorganization of the companies and that guarantees will be given to banks so they can enter with fresh capital and allow us to start working again, the blockade can be called off. I'm in favor of talking for three months rather than blocking and striking. That is - if there's someone to talk to, if not, there's no other solution," the union leader said. The five companies - Vranje, Nis, Kragujevac, Beograd, and Backaput - are demanding from the Privatization Agency to examine controversial privatizations and unblock their accounts, providing them with overdue wages and new contracts. Nibens Group owner Milo Djuraskovic ad seven managers from the companies that form the group were arrested in May on suspicion that they stole EUR 32mn from the Krusevac-based FAM company. The protest in front of the govt. HQ earlier this month (Tanjug)

Road workers union rep warns of new crisis

Union leader Sonja Vukadinović told B92 that despite making promises several weeks ago, the government in the meantime "did nothing to fulfill them".

"Should this meeting take place, we expect to hear from the prime minister about their intentions, whether they intend to deal with the problem at all, or if they'll just drag their feet. Time is not working in our favor. The building season is passing, therefore unless something happens in the next 10-15 days these companies are dead, it will be the end for them," said she.

Vukadinović warned that Nibens' 5,200 workers were ready to take "radical measures", and described them as people "with nothing to lose".

In case a meeting with the prime minister fails, they will start blocking the international Corridor 10, starting on Tuesday.

"If we were to receive firm guarantees that there will be some kind of reorganization of the companies and that guarantees will be given to banks so they can enter with fresh capital and allow us to start working again, the blockade can be called off. I'm in favor of talking for three months rather than blocking and striking. That is - if there's someone to talk to, if not, there's no other solution," the union leader said.

The five companies - Vranje, Niš, Kragujevac, Beograd, and Bačkaput - are demanding from the Privatization Agency to examine controversial privatizations and unblock their accounts, providing them with overdue wages and new contracts.

Nibens Group owner Milo Đurašković ad seven managers from the companies that form the group were arrested in May on suspicion that they stole EUR 32mn from the Kruševac-based FAM company.