The celebration of International Labor Day with trade union beans was held on Wednesday on the Mostar promenade near Zrinjevac Park, and Mostar mayor Mario Kordić distributed bean dish to Mostar residents.
He said that 1000 portions of dish were prepared, which they intend to distribute to fellow citizens today.
He thanked the Union of Independent Trade Unions, which puts the International Labor Day in focus every year.
“Unfortunately, this is just one day when we remember all the injustices and I think we should talk more often about the problems people have. Today, we are witnessing how people are leaving this country en masse, seeking better conditions and wages,” stated the mayor of Mostar, pointing out that our businessmen are aware of the quality of people they are left without.
According to him, the solution lies in improving conditions and wages so that people do not leave Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“In the last three years, we as a City have done as much as we could to give our contribution, because it is our duty to do everything so that as many people as possible stay here,” said Kordić, citing the example of the introduction of a non-working Sunday for merchants.
The president of the Union of Independent Trade Unions, Josip Milić, said that most of the pensioners came to the trade union party, because, as he said, we have unfortunately come to such times that people can live for a week on one portion or what they will take home.
Speaking about the state of labor in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton, Milić stated that the situation is not a fairy tale.
“Inflation is increasing every day. As you know, we in the education sector had two warning strikes against the HNK Government, and a general strike is also being prepared,” said Milić, expressing his hope that through the Peace Council they will be able to come to an agreement with the Government in order to avoid a general strike.
He also warned that the situation is not satisfactory even in kindergartens and colleges, and assessed that there is dissatisfaction with the overall education.
Milić stated that, with the help of the mayor of Mostar, they managed to distribute beans to the citizens of Mostar, and he thanked the Red Cross, which prepared and delivered everything.
On the city promenade, we found Dragan Kukić from Mostar, who said that workers’ wages are very bad today. He assessed that a lot should be done to improve the rights, and stated that in addition to better wages, financial stimulation of workers is also necessary.
On this day in 1886, around 40,000 workers protested in Chicago emphasizing the demands symbolized in 3 figures of eight: 8 hours of work, 8 hours of rest and 8 hours of cultural education. The police intervened with weapons and killed six and wounded around 50 workers. Many protesters were arrested, and the strike leaders were brought to court. Five of them were sentenced to death, and three to long-term imprisonment. In memory of the bloodshed in Chicago, at the 1st Congress of the Second International in 1889, it was decided that workers’ protests would be held on May 1 every year. From the following year, 1890, that date became the international day of general workers’ solidarity, Fena news agency writes.