Uncertain Start to Academic Year at Universities, Kozadra Unaware of Strike!

The start of the next academic year at the largest university in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the University of Sarajevo, is uncertain after the union threatened a strike due to delayed salaries and insecure funding, reports the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

The Union of the University of Sarajevo issued a press release today warning of the difficult situation and stating that it will go on strike on September 8 at fifteen faculties, writes the news agency Patria.

This decision will be implemented if urgent negotiations with the Sarajevo Canton Government do not begin.

Workers at the University of Sarajevo are in a difficult financial situation caused by delays in salary payments for more than two months and unpaid half salaries from 2013.

- Given that the KS Government systematically ignores the Union's attempts to start resolving this and other accumulated problems at the University, we are forced to address the public in this way - the statement said.

On the other hand, the head of the Sarajevo Canton Government, Muhamed Kozadra, who is also the acting Minister of Education of KS, stated in an interview for the news agency Patria that „he does not know what this is about“.

- I don't know what you're talking about. Call me on Monday - Kozadra said.

If the acting prime minister is not even aware of the issue, it seems that the strike will indeed happen, and at the time of September exams and enrollment in the new 2014/15 academic year, Patria reports.