The fact is that there is little trust in the unions and a negative stereotype, and then it is most easily transmitted to the union leaders.
Trade unions have never had any kind of autonomy and influence, except in the time of Tucovic and Lapcevic, even when they were close to the authorities during communism and socialism, says Professor Zoran Stojiljkovic, president of the United Branch Trade Unions “Independence” in the “Online Interview” section of the Facebook page of the newspaper Danas.
He points out that it is difficult for union negotiators to negotiate the minimum wage because Serbia has fallen low and there are poorer people.
– The union negotiators feel horrible when they negotiate the lowest wages, and knowing that the minimum wage is insufficient for living, we have fallen terribly low. How much is needed for a three-member family, in which one member usually works, is a real question in the negotiation strategy and is certainly more than the minimum wage. Minimal is a general category in Europe, of course. When you negotiate, you have to prove that an increase is possible, from inflation to general productivity growth. In order for something to be declared minimal, the Government and employers must agree to it. However, the question is whether the citizens themselves will agree to what is offered to them. The key argument will be the Ministry of Finance – says Zoran Stojiljkovic for Danas.
He emphasizes that a quarter of the population has fallen below the poverty line and that clientelism and political obedience have contributed to that.
-The border of poverty has fallen and a quarter of the population is below it, and the stratification in society is great. The reason for that is because we do not have a sufficiently capable government, the public sector is dominated by obedient people, who are disciplined by the acting president. All are in v.d. condition, from schools to public systems such as the Post and EPS. On the other hand, the government cultivates a sevrian attitude towards corporate capital, which has been given strong subsidies, which pays workers a minimum plus 20 percent. That is why the most common salary in the country is 350 euros. This means that we are in the zone of patriarchal employment and clientelism, and then we should not be surprised that it did not have enough optimal and high growth, which would only get us out of this situation. We are a country that does not have the rule of law, does not have a decent democracy, balanced economic growth and reduction of inequality. All three things did not happen in Serbia and let’s wake up, let’s think about our interests – says Stojiljkovic.
He stated that, together with colleagues from the Independent Trade Union of Serbia, the Social and Economic Council is negotiating a pension for 40 years of work experience and less than 65 years of age.
– It turns out that people were punished for the rest of their lives because they fulfilled the condition for retirement earlier. That can be corrected, it would cost the state around 9 million euros for 30,000 citizens who are retired but do not meet the age requirement, so they pay penalties – Stojiljkovic explained.
He reminded that the unions never had an autonomous history of struggles, nor were the union leaders seen as people with autonomy and space for decision-making.
– It is an objective burden. The other thing is, when you can’t criticize influential people, it hurts the least when unions are criticized. It is an assessment that a union is an organization without much power and then there is not much reason to influence it. The third thing, the stereotype of unions as unchangeable is quite justified because we have leaders who are unchangeable, with a low level of modern knowledge. Distrust stems from the fact that unions cannot solve some problems for people – said Stojiljkovic, Danas reports.
