Union Accuses Sarajevo Canton Government of Undermining Education

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Following the conclusion of negotiations between the Union Coordination and the Government of Sarajevo Canton regarding salary increases in 2022, the SSVOONK BiH Sarajevo Canton issued a press release.

We express our deepest dissatisfaction and disappointment with the overall conduct of the Government of Sarajevo Canton and Prime Minister Edin Forto in the negotiations to determine the base salary for 2022.

With their entire approach to these negotiations, the Government of Sarajevo Canton has clearly shown that it is not interested in education, even though it is one of the priority measures and the most significant policy it advocated for during its appointment. This demonstrates that the talk about improving education, science, and culture is merely a "MIRAGE" and a populist lure that has been recycled for years in the political programs of the parties that make up what is called the "TRIO".

From the very beginning and before the formal initiation of negotiations, it was clear that the Government would betray the workers, because, before the adoption of the Draft Budget for 2022, it consciously avoided fulfilling the obligations it had signed in the Collective Agreements, i.e., to consult with the unions, as the sole authorized representatives of the workers, regarding the determination of salaries for 2022 before the Draft was presented to the Government of Sarajevo Canton. When this was consciously bypassed, despite being a legal obligation, all other activities, negotiations, and agreements with the unions were, quite clearly, a mere farce and a show directed by the Prime Minister and ministers in the Government of Sarajevo Canton.

After they allocated the money foreseen in the Draft Budget for 2022, they then invited the unions for negotiations and presented them with a fait accompli, claiming that "THERE IS NO MONEY" and that salary increases for education workers are not a political priority for the Government of Sarajevo Canton!!!

The Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton stated that this budget was made in the interest of the citizens, as well as in the interest of certain deputies – independent, autonomous, and that the Government of Sarajevo Canton is buying votes from deputies in this way so that they can adopt the budget of Sarajevo Canton.

Offers ranging from 0 KM to 15 KM insult the intelligence of workers in education, science, and culture, at least 70% of whom are highly educated, having studied and pursued further education their entire lives, very often without government support, all with the aim of providing quality education to younger generations.

It was almost comical to watch Prime Minister Edin Forto, via Twitter, Facebook, and other social media, triumphantly announce to the public that he had offered the unions 5 or 15 KM, as if it were a dream offer or as if he were giving that money from his own pocket.

We hereby inform the public that the Government of Sarajevo Canton, as an employer from 2019 to 2021, has not increased salaries in education, science, and culture by a single fening, and now in 2022, it generously offers us 4.75% to "save" us from rampant inflation. "Well done, Government of Sarajevo Canton, for caring about us so we don't become beggars."

To our regret, as on some other occasions before, through political intrigues and, we assume, immoral offers, "suitable" individuals have betrayed the union unity, which is so necessary at this moment. To them and their membership, who supported such behavior, we say shame on them, and to us, a lesson for the future.

SSVOONK BiH Sarajevo Canton stands on the principled position that it will use all legally permissible means to improve the living standards of its members, as well as all workers in secondary education, science, and culture whose livelihoods are threatened by the actions of the Government of Sarajevo Canton, turning them into social cases.

The Cantonal Board of SSVOONK-a BiH does not agree to the further undermining of the education system through the material weakening of employees in education, science, and culture and poses the question – why is the growth of the budget and tax revenues, which the Sarajevo Canton Government constantly boasts about, not felt in the lives of workers in education, science, and culture, and why are economic policies, budget stabilization proposals, political showdowns, and divisions on various grounds being borne by our workers and citizens of Sarajevo Canton?

Also, a question for the Government and the "trio" that forms the government – why have they turned their backs on education, science, and cultural workers at the most difficult time when we are facing the greatest impact of price increases on living standards, all accompanied by the COVID-19 pandemic?

If the Government of Sarajevo Canton, as well as the deputies in the Sarajevo Canton Assembly who support this Government and its policies, continue with such a policy towards education, science, and culture, we propose that, as an innovative solution, they abolish education in Sarajevo and thereby acquire additional funds for various projects and election campaigns. We just don't know what will happen to the children then – it was concluded.