Biserka Sertić, President of the Independent Union of Employees of the Student Centers of Croatia (SSZSC RH), has sent a formal letter to the Minister of Labor, Josip Aladrović. In the letter, she emphasizes the fundamental demands of the strikers and highlights that students—who are increasingly appealing for a solution—are also suffering from the current situation. She requests that the Minister receive representatives from both the union and the Agency for Student Standards next week to reach a common solution.
Zadar, 13.11.2020.
Ministry of Labor, Pension
Family and Social Policy systems
Minister Josip Aladrović
Dear Minister Aladrović,
I wish to inform you about the strike of the Agency for Student Standards workers in Zadar, which has now been ongoing for 29 days.
The reasons for this strike are simple and entirely legitimate. There have been attempts to create a false narrative that the workers are merely demanding higher wages. In reality, the workers are fighting to exercise their fundamental right to have the point value and job systematization—the very basis for salary calculation—clearly defined within a Collective Agreement. I believe you will agree that this is not an excessive request.
However, the management of the Agency for Student Standards in Zadar rejects this, proposing instead that wages be determined unilaterally by the Agency’s Governing Council. Furthermore, management is attempting to dispute the right to regulate this issue through a collective agreement, arguing that workers already have a representative on the Governing Council. This clearly demonstrates an insufficient understanding of labor law, which is precisely what led to this strike.
The students, though they support us, are suffering indirect damage from this dispute. They are appealing more and more loudly for a swift resolution so that they may once again receive the quality nutrition our members are eager to provide as soon as the strike concludes.
I find the current situation absolutely unacceptable. I hereby request your mediation to resolve this stalemate by hosting a meeting next week with union representatives, the Director of the Agency (Jasna Vujević), and the President of the Agency’s Governing Council to reach a fair and common solution.
As the Minister of Labor, Pension System, Family, and Social Policy, you represent the only chance to end this 29-day agony for the Agency workers.
For any additional information, please contact my colleague Tomislav Kiš, President of the Union Strike Committee, at: 091/35 66 100.
Best regards,
________________
Biserka Sertić
President SSZSch
Cover photo: Screenshot/Antenna Zadar
