Global Ispat Koksna Industrija Lukavac (GIKIL), until recently one of the largest exporters in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is sinking deeper into financial trouble, and the possibility of bankruptcy is being mentioned more and more openly. The leadership of the GIKIL Trade Union today spoke with the federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić and the relevant federal minister Vedran Lakić, in the hope of receiving support for resolving the difficult situation.
The workers are demanding the payment of salaries and contributions. They have announced a two-hour warning strike for tomorrow.
If solutions to their demands are not found in the meantime, the workers say they will organize a general strike on October 2, with a complete blockade of the entrances and exits of the factory.
The company has incurred a debt of around 150 million BAMin the past two years, along with huge debts to suppliers. In the first seven months of this year alone, that debt has increased by 23 million BAM.
“On October 1, a warning strike has been announced that will last from eight to ten hours in front of the Administration building. On October 2, a general strike will follow, where we will block the freight exits, the gate and will not allow goods to leave until our demands are met, which are the payment of salaries for the month of August, the payment of contributions, we have not been paid pensions since March,” said Ermin Halilović, president of the GIKIL Union.
Vedran Lakić, Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry of the FBiH, says that talks on resolving the situation will continue tomorrow and Thursday.
“We do not want to shift responsibility onto anyone, but I think we should all get involved here. The Federation of BiH has no jurisdiction when it comes to assistance, but this is a part of the industry that we have been helping so far and we want to do so in the coming period. We expect more active involvement of the Tuzla Canton Government, which has much more authority when it comes to GIKIL,” said Lakić.
