S. Koreans sack union activists

Six union activists were yesterday fired from a South Korean Yura Corporation-owned company in Raca, central Serbia. Three managers and three members of the United Trade Union Sloga Executive Board who worked at the company were fired yesterday. S. Koreans sack union activists Yura factory has more than 1,000 employees and the United Trade Union Sloga has 120 members. The United Trade Union Sloga Deputy President Jovan Djuric has stated that union President Nela Obradovic, Deputy President Marijana Ilic and Secretary Vera Petrovic were laid off. According to him, the union president and secretary are accused of not preventing leaks of information about the company's problems to public which harmed the company's reputation. Djuric explained that the union deputy president was fired because she “allegedly switched shifts on her own“. Three members of the union board also lost their jobs. One of them was fired because he had an argument with his superior and the other two workers because they were on a sick leave. Djuric pointed out that the union practically did not exist in Yura factory anymore because all the remaining union members had been pressured by the employer to give up the union. He added that the Labor Inspection had been informed about the layoffs and that they would discuss the issue with the Labor Ministry next week. The Yura management did not want to comment on the layoffs in the last two days because, as they told Beta news agency, people “authorized to give information are in Nis where they are interviewing future workers in the local company“. The South Korean company bought Zastava Elektro factory for about EUR 3mn in April 2010. The company was obliged to invest about EUR 8mn and employ about 1,000 workers and it therefore received subsidies from the Serbian state budget.

S. Koreans sack union activists

Yura factory has more than 1,000 employees and the United Trade Union Sloga has 120 members.

The United Trade Union Sloga Deputy President Jovan Đurić has stated that union President Nela Obradović, Deputy President Marijana Ilić and Secretary Vera Petrović were laid off.

According to him, the union president and secretary are accused of not preventing leaks of information about the company's problems to public which harmed the company's reputation.

Đurić explained that the union deputy president was fired because she “allegedly switched shifts on her own“.

Three members of the union board also lost their jobs. One of them was fired because he had an argument with his superior and the other two workers because they were on a sick leave.

Đurić pointed out that the union practically did not exist in Yura factory anymore because all the remaining union members had been pressured by the employer to give up the union.

He added that the Labor Inspection had been informed about the layoffs and that they would discuss the issue with the Labor Ministry next week.

The Yura management did not want to comment on the layoffs in the last two days because, as they told Beta news agency, people “authorized to give information are in Niš where they are interviewing future workers in the local company“.

The South Korean company bought Zastava Elektro factory for about EUR 3mn in April 2010.

The company was obliged to invest about EUR 8mn and employ about 1,000 workers and it therefore received subsidies from the Serbian state budget.