Public sector workers block downtown Belgrade

According to assessments, at least 10,000 people gathered at the public sector unions’ protest in downtown Belgrade. The Serbian government says it does not understand what the real reason for the strike in schools is. Public sector workers block downtown Belgrade Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic says that the government is open for talks with the representatives of unions of education workers who are on strike, adding that they will not be paid salaries for the job they did not do. "As for the main requests, the government fulfilled all of them, and as for other requests regarding reforms, the government and the authorized ministry are ready for talks," Cvetkovic told the journalists. He pointed out that it would be unfair to the people working in the private sector and the unemployed to pay salaries to education workers for the job they did not do. According to him, the government fulfilled the promises made to the education workers who were on strike and paid for the working hours they had, and is willing to pay the rest of their salaries once they have held the classes missed during the strike. Sociologist Vladimir Vuletic explains that the unions which protest today are better organized than others and that they are aware of the fact that public sector will be under pressure in the next period, since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes that a solution for the crisis is reduced spending in the public sector. “In that sense, this is about organization, not about solidarity,” he told B92. Vuletic pointed out that today’s rally could bring some results but not exactly those the unions expect. The rally, dubbed “Serbia is rising”, began at one minute before noon at Nikola Pasic Square in downtown Belgrade. Some judiciary, health and police unions joined the striking teachers at the rally in order to show their support. Their joint request is improvement of public sector workers’ financial situation and that the government stops filling the state budget at the expense of the citizens. Association of Education Workers' Union (USPRS) representative Leonardo Erdelji expects a large number of people at the rally and that downtown Belgrade will be blocked. “We leave from Nikola Pasic Square, go to the president of the republic to hand him a letter, then we go to the government headquarters and then we go to Nemanjina Street,” he told B92 earlier. “We expect a great turnout. Meaning, buses are coming from Vrsac to Bor, from Cacak to Zajecar. Doctors and police officers from other cities will come too, so we expect a large turnout,” Erdelji pointed out. “We’ve got all permissions. If at least 10,000 to 30,000 people come it (downtown Belgrade) will be blocked. We’ve also got a route, we’ve got rotating light vehicles. So, here we go. Everything will be blocked. The rally has been registered to take place since 12 until 17:00” he said. (FoNet, file) Minister: We keep our promises Today there will be no classes at schools that have had 30-minute lessons for two months due to teachers’ strike. Education and Science Minister Zarko Obradovic says, however, that he does not understand the real reason why the teachers are on strike. “I’m trying to figure out the real reason for the strike, because the government has been saying since beginning some, in my opinion, crucial things, that we will do everything to improve the employees’ financial situation, that we will do everything to fulfill their requests, that we’ve basically accepted more than 90 percent of their stance,” he told B92. “We’re already doing some things we’ve promised. Among the things we are doing is the Budget System Law, the first increase has already been done. We said that the second increase would be once the economic situation had been determined after the first quarter. These indicators will be known after April 20 this year, because we said we would be ready to sign an annex or a special protocol where the amount of the increase would be exactly known once we know the indicators,” Obradovic stressed. Even though he says that they should wait until April 21, the education minister points out that it is certain that teachers will get a raise based on the economic indicators from December and January. “The increase will be higher than those 2.95 percent I guess, which was determined by the Budget System Law, meaning through this projection, but it will be known around April 20 this year. Should the government promise the unions something it cannot fulfill? I don’t think so. And I think that it’s a fair approach, that you cannot promise something you cannot do,” he explained. The education workers have been requesting a 20 percent raise by the end of the year, changes to the Education Law, signing of a new collective agreement and payment of jubilee awards for 2009, 2010 and 2011 for two months now.

Public sector workers block downtown Belgrade

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetković says that the government is open for talks with the representatives of unions of education workers who are on strike, adding that they will not be paid salaries for the job they did not do.

"As for the main requests, the government fulfilled all of them, and as for other requests regarding reforms, the government and the authorized ministry are ready for talks," Cvetković told the journalists.

He pointed out that it would be unfair to the people working in the private sector and the unemployed to pay salaries to education workers for the job they did not do.

According to him, the government fulfilled the promises made to the education workers who were on strike and paid for the working hours they had, and is willing to pay the rest of their salaries once they have held the classes missed during the strike.

Sociologist Vladimir Vuletić explains that the unions which protest today are better organized than others and that they are aware of the fact that public sector will be under pressure in the next period, since the International Monetary Fund (IMF) believes that a solution for the crisis is reduced spending in the public sector.

“In that sense, this is about organization, not about solidarity,” he told B92.

Vuletić pointed out that today’s rally could bring some results but not exactly those the unions expect.

The rally, dubbed “Serbia is rising”, began at one minute before noon at Nikola Pašić Square in downtown Belgrade.

Some judiciary, health and police unions joined the striking teachers at the rally in order to show their support.

Their joint request is improvement of public sector workers’ financial situation and that the government stops filling the state budget at the expense of the citizens.

Association of Education Workers' Union (USPRS) representative Leonardo Erdelji expects a large number of people at the rally and that downtown Belgrade will be blocked.

“We leave from Nikola Pašić Square, go to the president of the republic to hand him a letter, then we go to the government headquarters and then we go to Nemanjina Street,” he told B92 earlier.

“We expect a great turnout. Meaning, buses are coming from Vršac to Bor, from Čačak to Zaječar. Doctors and police officers from other cities will come too, so we expect a large turnout,” Erdelji pointed out.

“We’ve got all permissions. If at least 10,000 to 30,000 people come it (downtown Belgrade) will be blocked. We’ve also got a route, we’ve got rotating light vehicles. So, here we go. Everything will be blocked. The rally has been registered to take place since 12 until 17:00” he said.

Minister: We keep our promises

Today there will be no classes at schools that have had 30-minute lessons for two months due to teachers’ strike.

Education and Science Minister Žarko Obradović says, however, that he does not understand the real reason why the teachers are on strike.

“I’m trying to figure out the real reason for the strike, because the government has been saying since beginning some, in my opinion, crucial things, that we will do everything to improve the employees’ financial situation, that we will do everything to fulfill their requests, that we’ve basically accepted more than 90 percent of their stance,” he told B92.

“We’re already doing some things we’ve promised. Among the things we are doing is the Budget System Law, the first increase has already been done. We said that the second increase would be once the economic situation had been determined after the first quarter. These indicators will be known after April 20 this year, because we said we would be ready to sign an annex or a special protocol where the amount of the increase would be exactly known once we know the indicators,” Obradović stressed.

Even though he says that they should wait until April 21, the education minister points out that it is certain that teachers will get a raise based on the economic indicators from December and January.

“The increase will be higher than those 2.95 percent I guess, which was determined by the Budget System Law, meaning through this projection, but it will be known around April 20 this year. Should the government promise the unions something it cannot fulfill? I don’t think so. And I think that it’s a fair approach, that you cannot promise something you cannot do,” he explained.

The education workers have been requesting a 20 percent raise by the end of the year, changes to the Education Law, signing of a new collective agreement and payment of jubilee awards for 2009, 2010 and 2011 for two months now.