PM Uk in Polis: I don't understand teachers' dissatisfaction, I want to talk but I won't agree to blackmail

(Patria) - Appearing last night on the TV Sarajevo show Polis, Sarajevo Canton Prime Minister Nihad Uk commented on numerous topics in the Canton and provided answers to a series of current issues, including the strike of teachers in primary education and the taxation of unused properties, it was announced from Our Party.

Today, the warning strike of the Union of Primary Education and Upbringing began. According to earlier announcements, with a two-hour strike every day until the end of the school year, teachers in primary schools want to highlight the problems in their work and inadequate income for their labor. This move, according to Prime Minister Uk, will most harm students and their parents.

“For next Thursday, the Government of Sarajevo Canton announces a press conference at which it will present the ways and percentages by which salaries have been increased in all sectors. Our desire is to inform the public about the results we are proud of, because these are serious salary increases through increased base salaries and new collective agreements. At this moment, we have a problem with the Union of Primary Education and Upbringing, who are dissatisfied with their status, even though salaries in their sector have increased by 46 percent in the last three years,” emphasized Prime Minister Uk.

Although he does not understand their dissatisfaction, he said that he intends to talk with the representatives of the Union again, but that he will not agree to blackmail.

“A senior teacher has a salary of 1,950 KM, plus a meal allowance, a transport ticket, and an allowance for past work. However, we should not speculate whether this is an excellent salary. I believe it is a good salary, and it should continue to grow, just as salaries in the public and private sectors should grow,” he concluded.

The announced topic of taxing unused properties, popularly called the “tax on empty apartments,” has also generated considerable controversy. It is evident that an increasing number of citizens from BiH and the diaspora are buying real estate as the best way to invest money, which constantly increases the prices per square meter for both purchase and rent.

“A working group has been appointed to analyze the market, the number of such properties in Sarajevo Canton, and the best practices in the countries of the region and the European Union – and to come to us with information and proposals on how to solve this problem, which leads to a constant increase in the price per square meter of real estate, as well as rent for apartments,” said Prime Minister Uk.

“Taxing empty properties, those that are not in use, is one of the models for lowering the prices per square meter of apartments for sale and rent. We want to encourage owners of additional properties to put them on the market by renting them out. In this way, by collecting rent, they will pay a certain tax on renting, and due to the significant number of such properties, apartment rental prices will certainly fall. This would have a double effect – lowering rental prices for apartments, which would certainly also lead to a decrease in the price per square meter of apartments for purchase.”

In addition to these topics, Prime Minister Nihad Uk also spoke about the narrative that has been created around the security situation in the Canton, which has opened the door to some populist initiatives and the actions of certain parties, or their individuals, to settle personal scores with the KS Government, the commissioner, and the police.

During his appearance on the show Polis, he also touched upon the topics of the joint appearance of the Trojka coalition in the upcoming local elections, subsidies for young people, utility prices, and the Draft Urban Plan for Sarajevo Canton.