Divided Union in the BPK MUP Has Damaged Interpersonal Relations, There Is Only One Truth

(Patria) - Turbulences in the MUP of BPK Goražde, which resulted in a change of minister and the judicial reinstatement of the dismissed commissioner Adem Laković, have long divided employees in this institution. By mixing politics into police work, two unions were created, which, according to the current Minister of Interior Armin Mandža, creates difficulties in resolving the status issues of employees, affects daily activities, and also the objective informing of the public about all processes within the Ministry.

In his address, Mandžo rejected any insinuations that he favours the Police Administration Union over the Police Union, which often publicly complains about the minister's actions. One of the problems is the signing of the collective agreement for employees of the Ministry of Interior, for which the Police Union claimed they were not given the opportunity for discussion and dialogue.

"Given that the Police Administration Union also submitted a request for a meeting, I informed them that it is possible to talk only simultaneously with both unions. I believed, and still believe today, that the separate operation of the unions is harmful and contrary to the interests of their members, and that only in this way can any speculation about favouring any of the unions be avoided," Mandžo pointed out.

Although at the meeting that took place at the beginning of September it was agreed that the unions would submit a harmonised proposal for the collective agreement, this never happened, even though the Ministry sent several reminders and the Government of BPK Goražde formed a negotiating team. Even the meeting organised at the end of last year did not yield concrete results, so the deadline of the previously signed collective agreement expired. It remains for the unions to agree on their method of informing the public.

"Two months ago, the Law on Amendments to the Law on Police Officers was adopted. After that, information emerged that the proposals of the Police Union were not taken into account. This actually sent a message from this Union that only the opinion of the holders of union functions is important, but not that of other police officers who are members of that Union," Mandžo believes.

He supported his claims with the fact that the amendments to the law were prepared by a working group in which both unions had one representative each. Unlike the Police Administration Union and the OHR, the Police Union never submitted its comments, but wanted to draft its own proposal for the law.

The Ministry also changed the Rulebook on Internal Organisation and Job Classification.

"The unions were not involved in these activities. This is a Rulebook that is exclusively within the competence of the manager. It does not define the rights of employees, but rather the way to most efficiently perform work tasks," Mandžo pointed out.

He also commented on the recruitment of new employees in the Ministry, denying that the legal procedure, which stipulates that one member of the recruitment commission is appointed by the union, was not followed. Given that two unions operate, the minister, as he says, is able to choose a representative of either, which he did.

In order to reduce the possibility of union disagreements, the minister also changed the Rulebook on House Rules, which defines that unions may only post invitations to members and general union acts on the notice board.

"Previously, the board was used to display the positions of the Union, and since the unions have their own bodies through which the membership can be informed, this does not jeopardise their functioning," Mandžo believes.

The minister expects the unions to inform the public objectively about their activities and positions in the future, in order to avoid further deterioration of interpersonal relations in the MUP of BPK Goražde, as well as the misuse of unions for political purposes.