Trade unions in one-hour warning strike

BELGRADE Trade unions staged a one-hour warning strike on Thursday to voice their dissatisfaction over the proposed amendments to the Labor Law. The strike was organized by representatives of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia and United Branch Trade Unions Independence. Trade unions in one-hour warning strike They announced that the strike would be held in companies and institutions throughout Serbia 11:00-12:00 CET. Trade unions announced the strike some ten days ago when they called for the withdrawal of the Labor Law for additional revisions prior to adoption and the withdrawal of laws on bankruptcy and privatization from the procedure altogether, as well as the dismissal of Economy Minister Sasa Radulovic. Representatives of the Trade Union of Doctors and Pharmaceutical Workers of Serbia and members of the Police Trade Union of Serbia said earleir they would join the one-hour strike, as did the Teachers' Trade Union. Representatives of these unions cautioned last week that unless the demands of the trade unions are met, blockades will be set up in cities, culminating in large-scale protests in the capital. Union leaders hold a news conference after the warning strike (Beta) "Looming elections" Failure to immediately pass systemic bills, in particular the privatization and bankruptcy bills, would be a sure sign that the country has given up on reforms, and that it is set to go to elections, Minister Sasa Radulovic said on Wednesday. "If the bills are passed, it will be a sure sign that there will be no elections, and that the Serbian government will do what it has announced, and implement reforms in 2014 to create the prerequisites for economic growth in 2015," Radulovic told reporters after a meeting with International Organization of Employers Secretary General Brent Wilton and representatives of the Employers' Union of Serbia. "I do not want to believe that we have embarked on reforms just for marketing purposes - I want to believe that it was a serious affair and that there was no joking involved," he added. He noted that it makes no sense for him to stay in the government if the reforms are not carried out. Earlier on, in an interview with the Danas daily, Radulovic said that the fate of all reforms in Serbia depends on a set of reform bills, which include the new privatization bill, amendments to the bankruptcy law and two other bills. If the adoption of the bills is delayed, it will be a reliable signal that the reforms have been given up on, and that there is no political will for them, Radulovic said. Tanjug

Trade unions in one-hour warning strike

They announced that the strike would be held in companies and institutions throughout Serbia 11:00-12:00 CET.

Trade unions announced the strike some ten days ago when they called for the withdrawal of the Labor Law for additional revisions prior to adoption and the withdrawal of laws on bankruptcy and privatization from the procedure altogether, as well as the dismissal of Economy Minister Saša Radulović.

Representatives of the Trade Union of Doctors and Pharmaceutical Workers of Serbia and members of the Police Trade Union of Serbia said earleir they would join the one-hour strike, as did the Teachers' Trade Union.

Representatives of these unions cautioned last week that unless the demands of the trade unions are met, blockades will be set up in cities, culminating in large-scale protests in the capital.

"Looming elections"

Failure to immediately pass systemic bills, in particular the privatization and bankruptcy bills, would be a sure sign that the country has given up on reforms, and that it is set to go to elections, Minister Saša Radulović said on Wednesday.

"If the bills are passed, it will be a sure sign that there will be no elections, and that the Serbian government will do what it has announced, and implement reforms in 2014 to create the prerequisites for economic growth in 2015," Radulović told reporters after a meeting with International Organization of Employers Secretary General Brent Wilton and representatives of the Employers' Union of Serbia.

"I do not want to believe that we have embarked on reforms just for marketing purposes - I want to believe that it was a serious affair and that there was no joking involved," he added.

He noted that it makes no sense for him to stay in the government if the reforms are not carried out.

Earlier on, in an interview with the Danas daily, Radulović said that the fate of all reforms in Serbia depends on a set of reform bills, which include the new privatization bill, amendments to the bankruptcy law and two other bills.

If the adoption of the bills is delayed, it will be a reliable signal that the reforms have been given up on, and that there is no political will for them, Radulović said.