Željeznice RS workers protest: We will not give up our rights, we will not allow bankruptcy

Workers of "Željeznice Republike Srpske" /ŽRS/ will not give up their rights, and they are asking the Government of Republika Srpska to review the work of the management of this public company, whose bankruptcy they will not allow, workers of this public company announced today at a protest in Banja Luka, reports the Patria News Agency.

The president of the ŽRS Transport Operations Trade Union, Zlatko Marin, said at the protest in Banja Luka's "Mladen Stojanović" Park that workers cannot be blamed for demanding payment of compensation for meals and holiday bonuses based on final court rulings.

- We have indications that the company is being reorganized, under which some of its parts would be privatized, and many workers would lose their jobs, and we know from experience in the region that this is a failure, said Marin, adding that there are surplus workers in administration, not in technical sectors.

He rejected the management's claims that workers' lawsuits would lead "Željeznice Republike Srpske" to bankruptcy, stating that "since 2006, all managements have made a loss of 240 million KM, for which no one has been held accountable, and the debts from their lawsuits for unpaid benefits amount to about 10 million KM".

The president of the Independent Trade Union of ŽRS Locomotive Engineers, Simo Cvjetković, claims that workers are forced to protect their rights on the streets.

Cvjetković pointed out the conclusion of, as he says, harmful contracts in this public company to which the competent investigative and judicial bodies have not reacted, and that the management is now saving on workers and threatening them with bankruptcy.

The president of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Republika Srpska, Obrad Belenzada, also addressed the workers in "Mladen Stojanović" Park, and the gathering ended peacefully.

Workers have nine enforceable judgments due to the previous reduction of the meal allowance from 185 to 112 KM, but they have not yet received the money, ATV reported.