The independent union of utility workers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – the Sarajevo Cantonal Board is protesting today in front of the Government of Sarajevo Canton due to the refusal to increase the wages of utility workers.
Protests will symbolically be held from five to twelve in front of the cantonal government building, all to point out to the authorities the difficult conditions in which workers in seven companies in the field of communal economy find themselves.
Representatives of the Independent Union of Utility Workers pointed out that today’s protest will be the first step of the struggle, because the salaries of most utility workers amount to 900 BAM, and that many of their households have only one salary.
The president of the Cantonal Board of Trade Unions, Rasim Ljucević, emphasized that, if their demands are not met, they will organize a general strike after the peaceful protest.
“It’s up to the utility companies, we receive daily criticism for the state of the economy, which in most cases is justified, and the workers in the utility industry are not to blame for that,” emphasized Ljucević.
They warned that a general strike can only harm the citizens, because in that case the city would be covered with waste, without water, heating, and other services offered by utility companies.
The Trade Union stated that they have started negotiations regarding the signing of a new Collective Agreement on the rights and obligations of workers and employers in the field of communal economy in Sarajevo Canton, given that the current Collective Agreement expired on December 31, 2023.
They point out that the Government of Sarajevo Canton and the Negotiating Team of the Government of Sarajevo Canton do not listen to the workers of the utility industry, and they do not want to comply with the demands of the Union to increase the wages of utility workers by 100.00 BAM.
“SSRKPFBIH Sarajevo Cantonal Board will defend the interests of its members by all means,” they said, and added that the Sarajevo Cantonal Board made decisions on further steps, namely the initiation of lawsuits, the submission of inspection reports against companies that violated legal obligations, the organization of a warning strike and a general strike. strike at the level of all utility companies in Sarajevo Canton.
