Unions tell Sarajevo Canton Government: If you don't come to your senses by March 31, 25,000 workers will take to the streets

(Patria) - Representatives of the Coordination of Unions of workers paid from the budget of Sarajevo Canton, communal utilities and healthcare, representing 25,000 workers, stated that if the Sarajevo Canton Government does not increase the base salary, they will take to the streets on March 31. As they pointed out, the situation is alarming, and the Sarajevo Canton Government is acting as if everything is under control. As stated by Saim Smajlović, President of the Police Union, the priority is the base salary, which must be increased.

- Our employer does not protect us and we must react. Our colleagues and all of us still live on our salaries - said Smajlović.

Rasim Ljucević, President of the Union of Communal Utilities, says the situation is dramatic.

- Citizens will feel this in May and June. The Sarajevo Canton Government does not treat us at all. We have had no one to negotiate with for months; we have no management structures, supervisory boards, company assemblies... It is total chaos. Minister Adnan Šteta, as acting director, tried to improve things, but he is not from this field and is not a solution to our numerous problems. We invited Prime Minister Nihad Uk, but he never came to talk to us. We work in poor conditions, we do not even have occupational safety equipment, and how can we provide services. The director of the public utility company Vodovod i kanalizacija resigned ten days ago, so that problem is also pending - said Ljucević, adding that the average salary in communal utilities is 1,340 KM.

President of the Union of Healthcare Workers Senad Sadiković pointed out the shameful attitude of the Sarajevo Canton Government.
- We have been too tolerant. It is time to get moving, and it is shameful that we have the lowest base salary compared to other cantons - said Sadiković.

Saudin Sivro, President of the Union of Primary Education, said that they will have negotiations with the Sarajevo Canton Government today at 1:00 PM.

- Given the overall situation in our country, it would not be good to organize strikes, but we will do so if they do not offer us the base salary amount we are demanding. If strikes occur, the responsibility lies with Prime Minister Uk and the Sarajevo Canton Government - stated Sivro. He noted that the Coordination of Unions is demanding a base salary of 425.

- The Sarajevo Canton Government has been acting like a stepmother for months, always with the same story - that there is no money. We will start collecting zakat from our salaries for the Government because this government obviously has special needs - stated Sivro.

Elvis Zornić, President of the Independent Unions of Civil Servants and Employees, stated that everything has its limits and that workers are losing patience.

- By March 31, we must know where we stand and what we are. If they do not offer a higher base salary, they will have a serious problem with strikes - said Zornić.