The Independent Air Traffic Control Union at SMATSA, one of the company’s representative unions, stated that it was not informed about the strike called by another union and did not participate in the decision.
The other representative union at SMATSA (Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services) decided to go on strike—or reduce operations to the legal minimum—starting August 19 at 23:00, with the strike scheduled to last until September 30 at 23:00. Under the strike, the volume of work may only be reduced by 10% according to law.
The Independent Union clarified that its members, including those in Montenegro, are not participating in the strike, as Montenegrin law allows a strike decision only by a union registered in Montenegro or a majority of employees in the local part of the company.
In a statement to the employer on August 5, nearly two weeks before the strike, the Independent Union emphasized that all disputes should be resolved through constructive dialogue to protect employees’ rights and maintain air traffic safety and system stability.
President Aleksandar Vučić previously criticized air traffic controllers, implying dissatisfaction with their salaries, though he does not directly control SMATSA pay. According to sources, average salaries at SMATSA are around €5,300, well above the Serbian national average but below regional averages. Top management salaries are higher, but the responsibility and workload for controllers are significant.
SMATSA jointly manages air traffic control for Serbia and Montenegro, the southern Adriatic Sea (in cooperation with Albcontrol), and since 2019, also oversees 55% of Bosnian airspace.
