Unions announce protests as talks collapse

The talks in Belgrade today between representatives of Serbia's trade unions and the gathering have fallen through. The provisions of draft changes to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance remain a stumbling block. Unions announce protests as talks collapse Union leaders say they will start collecting signatures from citizens tomorrow, calling for the government to resign. The signatures will be collected throughout Serbia. Alliance of Independent Unions Presidnet Ljubisav Orbovic confirmed there was no success in today's negotiations. He told reporters the meeting at the government building was short and ended "to all intents and purposes with no results". Orbovic also warned that unions are now "justifiably very unhappy". He explained that the only demands tabled by the unions that have been accepted by the government are those related to the protective minimal pension limit, which is at 27 percent of the average net salary, to the government's obligation to "care for those laid off". Orbovic also announced that after their bid to gain support from the citizens to force the government to resign, the unions will organize strikes of warning, a general protest on the day the petition is submitted, "and these protests will continue until a new government has been elected". However, Ranka Savic of the Association of Free and Independent Unions says that the talks with the government have not collapsed, and says the unions are ready to continue with negotiations if the government comes up with new proposals. Today, union representatives decided to walk out of the meeting after Labor Minister Rasim Ljajic informed them the government was not ready to negotiate their key demand, which is to set the average net pension at a minimum of 60 percent of the average net salary in the country. "It is unacceptable for us that they (the government) will not talk about a protective clause, since for the first two years pensions will not lose in value, but this will happen in two years' time when this government's mandate expires," Savic told reporters. The controversial draft law was withdrawn from parliamentary procedure after unions raised their objections, but was last week sent back unchanged. Earlier, Rasim Ljajic was quoted as saying that no request for changes to the law that is coming from trade unions can be accepted without IMF's agreement. An IMF mission is still in Belgrade as part of the sixth revision of the stand-by arrangement with Serbia. Union leaders address reproters (Beta, file)

Unions announce protests as talks collapse

Union leaders say they will start collecting signatures from citizens tomorrow, calling for the government to resign. The signatures will be collected throughout Serbia.

Alliance of Independent Unions Presidnet Ljubisav Orbović confirmed there was no success in today's negotiations. He told reporters the meeting at the government building was short and ended "to all intents and purposes with no results".

Orbović also warned that unions are now "justifiably very unhappy".

He explained that the only demands tabled by the unions that have been accepted by the government are those related to the protective minimal pension limit, which is at 27 percent of the average net salary, to the government's obligation to "care for those laid off".

Orbović also announced that after their bid to gain support from the citizens to force the government to resign, the unions will organize strikes of warning, a general protest on the day the petition is submitted, "and these protests will continue until a new government has been elected".

However, Ranka Savić of the Association of Free and Independent Unions says that the talks with the government have not collapsed, and says the unions are ready to continue with negotiations if the government comes up with new proposals.

Today, union representatives decided to walk out of the meeting after Labor Minister Rasim Ljajić informed them the government was not ready to negotiate their key demand, which is to set the average net pension at a minimum of 60 percent of the average net salary in the country.

"It is unacceptable for us that they (the government) will not talk about a protective clause, since for the first two years pensions will not lose in value, but this will happen in two years' time when this government's mandate expires," Savić told reporters.

The controversial draft law was withdrawn from parliamentary procedure after unions raised their objections, but was last week sent back unchanged.

Earlier, Rasim Ljajić was quoted as saying that no request for changes to the law that is coming from trade unions can be accepted without IMF's agreement.

An IMF mission is still in Belgrade as part of the sixth revision of the stand-by arrangement with Serbia.