Protesting workers unblock major road

Some 200 workers of the Magnohrom factory from the town of Kraljevo this morning set off on a protest march toward Belgrade, demanding to be paid overdue wages. But the workers stopped after 15 kilometers, near the village of Milocaj, and blocked the Ibar highway. Protesting workers unblock major road The blockade was in the meantime lifted, and the workers continued toward Belgrade on foot. Cars and trucks previously formed several-kilometer long lines near the roadblock. Member of the striking committee Dusan Vukadinovic told reporters that the protesters would not walk any further, "because would be beyond their physical capabilities". They were "determined to keep the highway blocked until buses are sent for us, or until someone tries to remove us", said Vukadinovic. Earlier in the day, reports said that the workers intended to reach the capital city on foot "in a few days' time", unless they were provided buses. In that case, they expected to be in Belgrade by noon today, to organize protest in front of the Privatization Agency and the Ministry of Economy. The workers are demanding the payment of 18 salaries on average from the government - which previously unsuccessfully attempted to privatize the factory, "and took money for it". They also said that the government's offer of shares and mortgages "means nothing". "Nobody told us what the price of the shares would be and where they could be sold. Magnohrom has been totally devalued. The state itself cannot guarantee the price. We are asking the state to stand behind Magnohrom and to pay us what it in a way owes us," Dusan Vukadinovic told B92 earlier on Tuesday. This union activist also said he believed the mayor of Kraljevo had him in mind when accusing the workers of "politicizing" the strike - considering that Vukadinovic is a member of the opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS). "I came under attack because I'm a member of an opposition party, however I'm not acting on behalf of the party but as a former Magnohrom worker. In any case, I hold no position within the party," explained Vukadinovic. Some workers this Monday stayed behind and continued their protest in the Kraljevo town hall, and said they would not leave until they had received their overdue wages - the payment of which had been ordered in a court ruling. (Beta) B92 Tanjug

Protesting workers unblock major road

The blockade was in the meantime lifted, and the workers continued toward Belgrade on foot.

Cars and trucks previously formed several-kilometer long lines near the roadblock.

Member of the striking committee Dušan Vukadinović told reporters that the protesters would not walk any further, "because would be beyond their physical capabilities".

They were "determined to keep the highway blocked until buses are sent for us, or until someone tries to remove us", said Vukadinović.

Earlier in the day, reports said that the workers intended to reach the capital city on foot "in a few days' time", unless they were provided buses. In that case, they expected to be in Belgrade by noon today, to organize protest in front of the Privatization Agency and the Ministry of Economy.

The workers are demanding the payment of 18 salaries on average from the government - which previously unsuccessfully attempted to privatize the factory, "and took money for it".

They also said that the government's offer of shares and mortgages "means nothing".

"Nobody told us what the price of the shares would be and where they could be sold. Magnohrom has been totally devalued. The state itself cannot guarantee the price. We are asking the state to stand behind Magnohrom and to pay us what it in a way owes us," Dušan Vukadinović told B92 earlier on Tuesday.

This union activist also said he believed the mayor of Kraljevo had him in mind when accusing the workers of "politicizing" the strike - considering that Vukadinović is a member of the opposition Serb Progressive Party (SNS).

"I came under attack because I'm a member of an opposition party, however I'm not acting on behalf of the party but as a former Magnohrom worker. In any case, I hold no position within the party," explained Vukadinović.

Some workers this Monday stayed behind and continued their protest in the Kraljevo town hall, and said they would not leave until they had received their overdue wages - the payment of which had been ordered in a court ruling.