'Are we humans or slaves' - educators in HNK went on a general strike

(Patria) - Educators of primary and secondary schools in the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton began a general strike this morning after failed negotiations with the HNK Government.

They also expressed their dissatisfaction by taking to the streets of Mostar. They carried banners: "Give us back our dignity", "Stop humiliation", "We are worth more"...

As stated by the president of the Coordination of Trade Unions of Budget Users of HNK, Josip Milić, another meeting was held yesterday at the Government where they offered an increase of 5 percent from October 2024, unlike the previous time when this increase was supposed to occur from January 1, 2025. The trade unions unanimously rejected this offer and went on a general strike.

"The doors for negotiations are ajar, the possibility of an agreement exists. Classes are supposed to start on September 9th, the Government postponed it due to the heat, and it is not excluded that an agreement will be reached. Until then, we are on a general strike and will continuously protest. Our demands are realistic, not maximalist. 3,500 people are dissatisfied. This is a fight for the dignity of human labor and beings. This is much more than coefficients and 50 KM. Are we humans worthy of living or slaves", he said.

He stated that the trade unions are seeking a 15 percent salary increase and said: "We are not begging for charity, we are asking for what is rightfully ours".

The president of the Cantonal Board of the Trade Union of Secondary and Higher Education in HNK, Edina Čomić, said that they received two slaps in the face from the HNK Government in one day.

"The first slap was when they offered us this second offer. This means that we will get 5 percent only three months earlier, and from January 1, 2025, there is nothing, except that they will generously not take those five percent. We expected at least those five percent now and another five percent next year. And the second slap we received when we left the Government and read their statement which stated that from today the burden is on the shoulders of educators and that we will be blamed for the educational process that will not start. And they all have higher salaries than us. This is a bad message for us, especially the part where they say that the HNK budget will collapse", she said.

Edin Sarajlić, president of the Independent Trade Union of Primary Education in HNK, said that this is the third protest of educators in HNK.

"If this is not enough of an indicator of people's dissatisfaction and this mass of people, then I don't know what is. I used to be angry, now I am disappointed. We live in one of the most expensive cantons, and our salaries are at the very bottom. This is a fight for dignity", said Sarajlić, reports N1.