N. Pazar strikers soften stance on "radicalization"

Novi Pazar textile workers, who earlier threatened drastic measures, backed off from their plans and agreed to negotiate in Belgrade. The leader of the striking workers, Zoran Bulatovic, who cut off a piece of his finger in protest on Friday, said that the workers of the Raska textile factory accepted the suggestion of Labor Minister Rasim Ljajic not to radicalize their protests, but instead restart negotiations with government officials tomorrow. N. Pazar strikers soften stance on "radicalization" The striking workers are demanding an urgent conversion of debts of the Raska Holding Company and for the state to tie together and gather the years of work for those workers that are five years short of taking an early retirement. Ljajic, who last evening met in Novi Pazar with the workers that have been on strike since Thursday because of unpaid wages, said that he offered negotiations with officials from four ministries. The striking workers accepted his suggestion to not radicalize their protests, but said that they will not stop striking until their demands are met. After talking to the leaders of the strikers, Ljajic said that it is "most important at this time for the workers to stop making the protest more extreme". "I asked them to stop radicalizing their strike, I offered to have a meeting in Belgrade on Tuesday, because there is work here for the economy, finance, justice and regional development ministries, but also for the Privatization Agency, Tax Administration and other state institutions," Ljajic said. Bulatovic for his part stated that the workers will not back down from their demands, but that they will not radicalize their protests "at least until the meeting". He said that they will form a group that will speak to government officials on Tuesday, but that he will not be a part of the group. Ljajic said that he will insist on precisely formulated deadlines if negotiations begin. The Raska factory once employed about 4,000 workers but now has hardly 100 workers still on its payroll in Novi Pazar.

N. Pazar strikers soften stance on "radicalization"

The striking workers are demanding an urgent conversion of debts of the Raška Holding Company and for the state to tie together and gather the years of work for those workers that are five years short of taking an early retirement.

Ljajić, who last evening met in Novi Pazar with the workers that have been on strike since Thursday because of unpaid wages, said that he offered negotiations with officials from four ministries.

The striking workers accepted his suggestion to not radicalize their protests, but said that they will not stop striking until their demands are met.

After talking to the leaders of the strikers, Ljajić said that it is "most important at this time for the workers to stop making the protest more extreme".

"I asked them to stop radicalizing their strike, I offered to have a meeting in Belgrade on Tuesday, because there is work here for the economy, finance, justice and regional development ministries, but also for the Privatization Agency, Tax Administration and other state institutions," Ljajić said.

Bulatović for his part stated that the workers will not back down from their demands, but that they will not radicalize their protests "at least until the meeting".

He said that they will form a group that will speak to government officials on Tuesday, but that he will not be a part of the group.

Ljajić said that he will insist on precisely formulated deadlines if negotiations begin.

The Raška factory once employed about 4,000 workers but now has hardly 100 workers still on its payroll in Novi Pazar.