Coordination of Free Trade Unions' Appeal: Hold an Urgent Session of the FBiH Parliament and Introduce Provisional Administration in Nova željezara Zenica

(Patria) - The Coordination of Free Trade Unions of BiH has requested an urgent session of the House of Representatives and the House of Peoples of the FBiH Parliament due to the catastrophic situation in Nova željezara Zenica, at which the Law on the Procedure of Provisional Administration in that factory will be adopted.

The Coordination states that this is not a matter of one company, but the survival of thousands of families and the future of the industrial sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"Therefore, we clearly state: all those who oppose holding the session or oppose urgent measures to save jobs will directly side with capital and the interests of individuals, and against the interests of workers and citizens," the Coordination announced.

They state that they have information that representatives of the company's Management are visiting political parties and exerting pressure to prevent or postpone the session of the House of Representatives of the FBiH Parliament.

"Instead of answering to the workers for the state the company is in, they are trying to avoid responsibility through political lobbying. The citizens of FBiH have the right to know who is protecting the workers today, and who is protecting those who have brought the company into a state of chaos and uncertainty," the Coordination states.

They remind that during the purchase of the Ironworks, the Management committed to increasing production, improving working conditions, new investments, and creating new jobs. They promised development, stability, and security for the workers.

They did not say then that, as the Coordination states, their priority would become political lobbying and attempts to block institutions from discussing the problems they themselves created.

They consider it particularly shameful that today "a campaign is being waged for the institutions of FBiH not to deal with the fate of the workers and their families at all," which "represents a direct blow to the social security of citizens and an attempt to shift responsibility to those who have nothing to do with the crisis."

"The Coordination of Free Trade Unions of BiH gives full and unreserved support to the workers of Nova željezara Zenica and states that they will not allow thousands of people to become victims of irresponsible management and behind-the-scenes political agreements.

Behind this request are more than 50,000 trade union members from the metal and oil industries, media, telecommunications, secondary and higher education, police, services, preschool and primary education, postal traffic, trade, civil servants, healthcare, and sports.

These are people who carry this country with their work every day and who will no longer remain silent while jobs are destroyed and the dignity of workers is trampled," the Coordination states.

Finally, they called on federal representatives to clearly show whose side they are on, adding that "anyone who refuses to support holding the session and introducing provisional administration will bear political and moral responsibility before the workers and citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina."