Coordination of Unions of Sarajevo Canton meets with ministers and SDP MPs: Numerous objections raised, protests on November 29

(Patria) - Representatives of the Coordination of Unions in Sarajevo Canton held a meeting today with the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Caucus in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly.

At the SDP BiH headquarters, attendees included the president of the SDP BiH Sarajevo Cantonal Organization Adnan Šteta, MPs Davor Čičić, Redžo Lemezan, Belma Kapo, Samir Avdić, as well as cantonal ministers Enda Pavić Pečenković, Kenan Magoda, and Enis Hasanović, and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury of BiH Muhamed Hasanović.

The president of the SDP BiH Sarajevo Cantonal Organization, Adnan Šteta, stated that the SDP respects the unions and that the unions' demands are not unrealistic.

“We will try to find funds in the budget and jointly direct them in the right direction. The problems with the weighting factor are known, but we need dialogue and the possibility of solutions,” said Šteta.

He announced that the SDP, in addition to its own portfolios, will also get involved in solving problems in all other sectors in the Sarajevo Canton, following the remarks and facts presented by the unions today.

“We have problems with some directors of companies and institutions, and we must resolve them in the interest of the workers and all citizens of Sarajevo Canton,” said Šteta.

On behalf of the Coordination of Unions, Saudin Sivro (President of the Coordination), Elvis Zornić (Deputy President of the Coordination), Admir Šuvalić, Senad Sadiković, Enes Šabić, and Rasim Ljucević informed the attendees that almost all cantons in the Federation of BiH have increased the base for salary calculation, while the Sarajevo Canton remains at the bottom, despite needing to be a leader in this regard based on living standards and costs.

The union representatives specifically raised objections to two documents currently in parliamentary procedure: the Draft Budget of Sarajevo Canton for 2025 and the Draft Law on the Execution of the Sarajevo Canton Budget for 2025.

They added that thousands of workers in education, healthcare, judiciary, public service, and municipal economy in Sarajevo Canton deserve support based on all the real indicators they have presented, and that they will not give up on their demands.

During this week, the Coordination of Unions held meetings with the caucuses of the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), Our Party (NiP), Party of BiH, and Our Party.

The meetings were organized after the Government of Sarajevo Canton did not accept the unions' demands for the payment of one-time financial assistance and an increase in the base for salary calculation in 2025, after which the Coordination of seven unions decided to hold a protest rally on November 29.