Union demands direct negotiations with Sarajevo Canton Government: Civil servants and employees pushed to the brink of social existence

(Patria) - The Independent Union of Civil Servants and Employees of Sarajevo Canton (KS) today demanded direct negotiations with the KS Government, stating that it does not accept its offer regarding the base salary amount in 2026.

This decision, the Union stated, was not made hastily, but is the result of a detailed economic analysis and extensive consultations with its membership.

"We emphasize that civil servants and employees have been pushed to the brink of social existence, and we particularly point out the alarming position of employees within the four lowest coefficients, who are currently receiving supplementary payments up to the guaranteed salary, thereby practically equating their work with the wages of unskilled workers," the statement reads.

The Union considers this unacceptable and degrading for the civil service.



"In the civil service of Sarajevo Canton, it is not possible to change coefficients because they are prescribed by federal regulation. The very position and status of civil servants and employees is significantly worse compared to all other colleagues working in other branches.

At today's session of the Management Board, held with the union committees of all our union organizations, a unanimous decision was also made for the Independent Union of Civil Servants and Employees of KS to withdraw from the Coordination of Sarajevo Unions.

Consequently, our Union will act exclusively independently in future negotiations. Therefore, in accordance with the above, the Union has submitted to the KS Government our official counter-proposal and demands, which are the only ones acceptable to our membership.

The Union demands the application of the aforementioned from January 1, 2026, and that the KS Government respects our demands, which are based on the real needs of workers and the difficult economic situation," the letter to the KS Government states.

In all future procedures of conducting social dialogue, and in communication with the Government of Sarajevo Canton and the relevant ministries, the Union emphasizes that it will act independently and autonomously, representing exclusively the interests of civil servants and employees in the bodies of the KS civil service.



"This decision was made unanimously, after a detailed analysis of the current offer of the Government of Sarajevo Canton dated December 17, 2025, which was assessed as unacceptable, and due to the need for a specific approach to resolving the social status of employees and civil servants who are not adequately represented through the current coordination model," the Union stated.