UNSA Union preparing strike, does not accept salary cuts

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - The University of Sarajevo Union (SUNSA) issued a press release today regarding the proposed budget rebalance for 2020, which reduced funds for the University of Sarajevo, and also envisages a reduction in employee salaries.

"The Union expresses its dismay at the actions of Prime Minister Mario Nenadić and the relevant Minister Anis Krivić regarding the non-compliance with the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the field of higher education at the University of Sarajevo. Namely, in the process of preparing the KS budget rebalance for 2020, the Prime Minister and the relevant Minister refused to negotiate and consult with the representative union, i.e., SUNSA, ignoring our requests that we submitted in accordance with the Collective Agreement. The Prime Minister of the KS Government forgets his obligations arising from the Collective Agreement, which oblige him not to act unilaterally, and especially not to inform SUNSA at all about his intentions, as well as those of the relevant Minister. SUNSA, unfortunately, notes that the manner of action of the Prime Minister and the relevant Minister is aimed at jeopardizing the employment legal status of employees at the University of Sarajevo, as well as weakening the teaching, scientific, and research capacities of the organizational units of UNSA," the Union stated.

The proposed budget rebalance aims to reduce expenditures for salaries and salary compensation of employees, as well as a part of material costs defined in the Collective Agreement itself. The KS Government has already transferred over 2 million KM planned in the budget for scientific research projects to the stabilization fund.

"By signing the Collective Agreement with SUNSA, the KS Government accepted the obligation to respect both of the aforementioned items, payments in undiminished amounts and the provision of funds for the advancement of teaching and scientific staff. In this way, the KS Government is attempting to violate in the most brutal way the provisions of the Collective Agreement that it signed itself, and to make matters worse, without informing SUNSA at all. SUNSA is particularly concerned about the actions of the KS Government, which on 4.5.2020. determined the Draft Budget Rebalance, which the Assembly will consider at its emergency session on 7.5.2020, leaving no room for any discussions with the representative union," it is stated.

SUNSA states that the burden of the crisis should be distributed evenly among all employees in the public sector, but it cannot and will not accept that the largest percentage of this burden falls on UNSA employees.

"It is particularly concerning that the Prime Minister and the relevant Minister place certain faculties at UNSA in a particularly privileged position, where the managers are their party colleagues, so instead of budget cuts, which they prepared for other faculties, they ensure undiminished amounts for them, allowing them to reallocate part of the funds from the KS budget to items where it is not possible, nor is it allowed for faculties where the managers are not their like-minded individuals.

"Due to the aforementioned actions of the KS Government in terms of violating the provisions of the Collective Agreement, SUNSA is starting preparations today to organize a strike at the organizational units of the University of Sarajevo, and the Prime Minister of the KS Government will be informed in due time about the exact date of its holding in accordance with the Labor Law of FBiH and the Collective Agreement for the field of higher education and science. Alongside these activities, SUNSA will initiate other legal mechanisms to protect the rights of UNSA employees arising from the Collective Agreement, which are jeopardized by such actions of the KS Government," the Union stated.