Lukavačka Koksara has officially finished production. Last night the last torches were extinguished. Together with the extinguishing of the torches, the production process in the crafty giant was shut down after more than 70 years. The extinguishing process was followed responsibly, to the end, by the workers and they did their best to ensure that everything took place without impacting the environment.
The factory, to which most citizens of Lukavac have been tied for decades, is now looking for a buyer, and the workers who lost their jobs are looking for new jobs.
“Unfortunately, we are aware of that. The workers simply responded, they saw that it was the end, at least it should be shut down with dignity, that everyone should go their own way,” said Ermin Halilović, president of the Koksara workers’ union in bankruptcy.
It is a very demanding and precise process of lowering the temperature and controlling all important parameters, there are only a few days left to monitor the situation on the ground. Residents are relieved because the danger has passed, but the grief for the factory to which they have been tied for generations remains.
“Sad, God pity the people who lost their jobs. This city leans on Koksara and families are tied, but it’s unnecessary to talk about everything.”
“My father worked downstairs, he had a year left until retirement and got fired. Here he is now at the office. My brother also stayed in the Fire Department, another month and that’s it.”
“That’s all, they also closed the mines, the separation we slept next to when she was working. And that Koksar, as it is, was polluting, but we got used to that Koksar, and now that means how many people worked there, fed their families, that’s not good.”
The property of Koksara, valued at more than 200 million marks, is offered for sale, in whole or in part. Workers’ claims are a priority.
“According to what I have of the phone calls, there is an announcement that there will be a report. What we have to do after that – the court authorities, that is, the creditors’ committee will further consider the best way in accordance with the law to monetize the property as best as possible. We expect a public invitation at the beginning of March, concrete for the sale of the property, whether individually or as a whole, it will depend on the offers that will come to us”, said the bankruptcy trustee Almir Bajrić.
“We hope that part of the factories, if not the whole, will be sold individually as soon as possible, so that the workers can be paid. We are in a higher payment order, so whatever is sold, the seniority in the period from March to November will be tied up and the workers will receive their back wages and severance pay. At least we deserved that, if nothing more,” added Halilović.
It is expected that in the next two to three months, the first assets will be cashed in order to start paying the claims of workers with a higher payment order, and then work will be done on the payment of severance pay. The closure of the Coke Plant closed an important chapter in Lukavac’s industrial history, but hope remains that new investments will bring the opportunity for a different, safer and more stable start for this city and its workers, Federalna writes.
