Ranka Savic: General strike requires agreement of three biggest trade unions

The president of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (ASNS), Ranka Savic, stated today that, in order to organize a general strike, an agreement between the three biggest trade unions in Serbia needed to be reached.

Savic told the Beta news agency that ASNS was in favor of the general strike, but that the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS) and the United Branch Trade Unions “Independence” (UGS “Nezavisnost”) had thus far not showed a readiness to stop work in the whole Serbia.

She emphasized that no trade union could organize a general strike on its own.

– ASNS was among the first ones to support the requests and protests of the students. We are ready to participate in the organization of a general strike, but the trade unions which are members of the Social and Economic Council of the Government of Serbia, namely, SSSS and UGS “Nezavisnost”, do not want to do so – said Savic.

She explained that “those trade unions do not have enough members to be members of the Social and Economic Council according to the law, but they nevertheless get payments from the state each month in the amount of an average salary. Participation in the Social and Economic Council is very profitable and they cooperate with the authorities very well” and when making decisions, take care “not to get on the wrong side of the authorities too much.”

– The degree to which these trade unions are representative has not been re-evaluated for 15 years, even though the law proscribes that a check of representativeness is done every three years – said Savic.

Asocijacija slobodnih i nezavisnih sindikata Beograd

Savez samostalnih sindikata Srbije Beograd

UGS Nezavisnost Beograd

Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions

ASNS

Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia

SSSS

United Branch Trade Unions Independence

UGS Nezavisnost

Ranka Savić

general strike