Unions vow to continue fighting against labor law

Unions vow to continue fighting against labor law

Leaders of the Confederation of Autonomous Unions of Serbia (SSSS) and the United Branch Unions "Independence" (UGS "Nezavisnost") Ljubisav Orbović and Branislav Čanak held a news conference on Monday to say they had no political backing, "and that the whole operation was exclusively a fight for workers' and union rights, which the amendments to the two laws had jeopardized," Beta reported.

The agency quoted Orbović as saying that he "could not understand the ruling party's announcements concerning the organization of a counter-rally (in support of the new legislation) at the same time as the union protest or sending police officers to company offices to learn who was planning on participating in it and slandering union leaders in the media."

"Is that democracy?" Orbović wondered, and stressed that trade unions have never been aggressive. Čanak at the same time confirmed that the UGS had left the Social-Economic Council.

"Our goal is to get better laws on labor and pension insurance... our goal is not to stop reforms, but reach a solution," Orbović said.

Both union leaders stressed they believed the legislation should undergo "certain procedure and a public debate" before adoption.

Čanak also commented on the Serbian government threats and announced counter-protest, saying that the unions would strike back "twice as hard" if pressured. "We will fight for as long as we are here. If they play dirty, we will retaliate in the same way."

He stressed that the unions had called on the American Chamber of Commerce and EU Delegation Head Michael Davenport to warn PM Aleksandar Vučić against "playing with harsh statements and threats."

According to Čanak, the new laws will further deteriorate the position of workers and pensioners in the country, and remarked:

"We are all super-miserable as it is, but with these laws, we will be even more miserable."

The two representative unions said they intended to set up tents in front of the Trade Unions' Building in Nikola Pašić square on July 15 and talk with the citizens there and collect their signatures for a petition to Serbian Parliament against adopting the new legislation.

A large protest is planned in Belgrade for July 17, Beta reported.