Sivro: KS Government against 25,000 workers, we demand salary increase due to rising costs

(Patria) - The Coordination of eight trade unions in Sarajevo Canton announced at today's press conference the holding of a protest rally which will be held on Wednesday, December 14, in front of the KS Government building from 10 to 11 AM.

Saudin Sivro, president of the Trade Union of Primary Education and Upbringing of KS, stated that the KS Government does not respect the Coordination of Trade Unions as a social partner, and therefore called on all workers, members of trade unions from the public sector in KS, to come out and express their dissatisfaction.

"The KS Government currently does not want to increase workers' salaries in 2023, nor does it want to pay a one-time financial aid to workers in 2022. We will send clear messages and warn the KS Government that this is not the end of our activities, and if the Government does not get serious and does not approach negotiations seriously with the eight representatives of the trade unions representing 25,000 workers, we will undertake other more rigorous trade union measures, including mass large protests, warning strikes, and a general strike, which would, in that case, cause the paralysis of the functioning of KS," Sivro stated.

He reminded that they had asked Prime Minister Edin Forto several times for an official stance from the Government regarding the base for salary increases for workers and for the payment of one-time financial aid.

- The day after we announced the protests to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we received answers from the KS Government that they are unable to pay the one-time aid. If the Prime Minister thinks that social dialogue can function like that, then he should think carefully whether he should accept those functions again - said Sivro.

"Regarding the base, we will not give up, especially since it has been announced that inflation will continue to rise in the coming months. In the end, I would like to tell the Government, led by the Prime Minister, that there are a billion KM reasons why all of this is unacceptable to us. Show that you are responsible like all other governments that have been," said trade unionist Elvis Zornić.

Sivro said that they will also stick to the demand for the payment of one-time aid of 1,080 KM.

"We are not in a hurry, we can negotiate the base after the New Year, and the payment of aid by the end of the year," said Sivro.