ViK workers announce general strike: We have been deceived, KS Government has until July 31st

(Patria) - Workers of the Sarajevo cantonal public utility company Vodovod i kanalizacija held a two-hour warning strike. If their demands are not met, namely that the Government of Sarajevo Canton fulfills its obligations based on the collective agreement regarding salary increases and payment of severance pay, the workers announce they will go on a general strike.

“We have set demands that the June salary include 200 KM and that severance pay be paid by July 31st. I know the public will react to a salary increase of 100-200 KM. A basic wage worker in ViK in KS, who performs the dirtiest jobs after the workers of Rada, was earning 780 KM, and that is why we are striking. If our demands are not met by July 31st, we will go on a general strike,” said Rasim Ljucević, president of the ViK Trade Union, for N1.

Today, the workers of ViK received support from the Coordination of Trade Unions of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina of Sarajevo Canton, whose salaries are paid from the Budget of Sarajevo Canton, the Fund of the Health Insurance Institute of Sarajevo Canton, and the communal economy of Sarajevo Canton, led by president Saudina Sivra.

"The Coordination of Trade Unions had a meeting on Thursday, July 6, 2023, during which, among other things, a decision was made to call on the management of KJKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Sarajevo to immediately respect the guaranteed rights of the workers, full support was given to the warning strike held on July 6, 2023, from 12 to 2 PM by the Trade Union Organization of KJKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Sarajevo, and readiness was expressed that in the coming period, if the issue of respecting the collective agreement and paying severance pay is not resolved soon, the Coordination
of Trade Unions will support the protests and general strike that the Trade Union Organization of KJKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Sarajevo may eventually organize in the coming period.

At the meeting, full support was given to the Trade Union of Health Workers of Sarajevo Canton regarding negotiations on amendments/additions to the collective agreement and harmonization of hourly rates in healthcare, and the Ministry of Health and the Government of Sarajevo Canton were urged to conclude negotiations with health unions as soon as possible.

On July 6, 2023, the Coordination of Trade Unions sent a letter via the Canton's protocol and expects an invitation from the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton for a meeting that should be held no later than July 13, 2023, at which they would discuss the agreement on the base for salary calculation in 2024, amendments/additions to collective agreements and harmonization of hourly rates in healthcare, as well as the non-compliance with the rights of workers in the communal economy," the Coordination of Trade Unions announced.