22. 01. 2005

IBARSKE NOVOSTI TO STRIKE

KRALJEVO, January 22, 2005 – Union leaders representing workers of the public media house Ibarske Novosti have demand that local authorities in Kraljevo take action over the company’s difficult financial situation. The Nezavisnost union has also sought the dismissal of editor-in-chief Veroljub Radakovic, Deputy Director Slavko Janosevic and Board President Biljana Knezevic. The union is also demanding the payment of wages which are four months in arrears. A second trade union representing staff of the company, Samostalni, says it does not back the demand for a change of management personnel, but has warned that it will take strike action if the wages arrears are not paid by January 28. Both unions have also said they expected to be included in the company’s coming privatisation process. The Nezavisnost union accuses Radakovic of mismanagement in engaging an additional 27 staff despite financial difficulties which, say union leaders, caused the company’s debt to increase to seven million dinars (almost 90,000 euros).