UK says no money for salary increases, Union announces road blockade at Skenderija on Friday

(Patria) - After the press conference of the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton Nihad Uk, who stated that there is no money for the requested increase in hourly wages for healthcare workers and that he must also think about other budget users, representatives of the Healthcare Workers' Union, who have been staying in a tent in front of the KS Government building since yesterday, also addressed the journalists.

„The KS Government has no intention of coming up with a new offer regarding salary increases; our offer from August of 3.25 KM remains. We appreciate the work of all healthcare workers, but the circumstances do not allow for new increases in the price of labor in this sector", concluded the Prime Minister.

Senad Sadiković, the President of the Union, immediately refuted Uk, who stated that approximately 120 million KM has been accumulated in the account of the KS Health Insurance Fund, stating that this is not true and that the amount is 190 million marks. He emphasized that the Fund had higher inflows in the first six months of 2024 than in the same period of 2023.

"It's not 100 or 120 million KM, but 190 million marks, and don't hide that from the public. Prime Minister Uk's statement that we are asking for 66 million KM and that they cannot provide it is incorrect. We asked for a different offer greater than 3.25 KM, not 66 million KM. We could have agreed on half that amount, but they lack the will. It is not true that healthcare workers received an increase three times and that it cost 80 million KM. A cleaner in healthcare received only 80 KM during all those increases. We asked for them to receive 100 marks, which is not a large increase.

The Health Insurance Fund has sufficient funds to increase the salaries of healthcare workers in order to maintain public healthcare and prevent further emigration of staff. They are constantly trying to strengthen the private sector. Our citizens go to private doctors for treatment, pay for MRI scans, and we have both the conditions and the funds to provide them at KCUS and the General Hospital. Budget users have nothing to do with us; the fact that other unions will come and demand salary increases for their workers is normal, and they should all come, and I invite them to come because everyone is dissatisfied. We have also received support from the communal economy and the police, who are also dissatisfied with their incomes", said Sadiković.

He stated that Uk is talking about matters he is not familiar with, concerning the funds in the Fund, and then, as he says, the Government makes decisions that are within the jurisdiction of the federal level and which they should resolve.

"They want to transfer funds for oncological patients from KS to the Federation of BiH. The director of JU Pharmacy Sarajevo attended the meeting where the allocation of money for oncological patients was discussed, which is the best indicator of how everything is being done and how the procurement of these medicines for the sick will be carried out. Their goal is to have a good tender and for everything to go through Pharmacy Sarajevo, as they are politically accustomed to doing everything. To be clear, none of the healthcare workers have absolutely anything against buying therapy for oncological patients. Our family members are among them. But a way must be found to set aside a certain amount of funds for salary increases for healthcare workers as well", emphasized Sadiković.

Healthcare workers once again reiterated that they will not give up on their demands for an increase in their hourly wages and that they will remain in front of the KS Government building until further notice. They have also announced a one-hour blockade of the Skenderija road in all directions for Friday, after which, as the Union stated, they will inform the public of new decisions.

"If it suits them in an election year, let them proceed, we will continue ours. I call on the relevant minister to address us, as well as SDP and NiP, not the prime minister who acts on the instructions of other people", said Sadiković.