ZAGREB, August 23, 2018 – Following a one-hour protest march through the streets of Pula on Thursday morning, striking Uljanik workers returned to the compound of the shipyard where they stayed until close of business.
Addressing the marching protesters, Pula Mayor Boris Miletić underscored that the priority was to preserve jobs and the survival of shipbuilding.
After the march ended, shop steward Đino Šverko said that he expected the government to discuss the situation at the shipyard during its meeting on Thursday. “Our pays most certainly won’t be paid today either, and tomorrow we will continue with our strike and protest march through Pula. We will continue striking until we receive our pays,” Šverko said and added that it would be proper for the management board at Uljanik to step down considering all this.
Another union representatives, Boris Cerovac, said that, if necessary, the disgruntled employees would protest in Zagreb too.
Workers at the seven companies within the Uljanik Group, including the Rijeka-based “3. Maj”, began their industrial action on Wednesday because they did not receive their wages for July which were to have been paid by August 15.
Workers at the “3. Maj” dock continued their strike on Thursday remaining at their workstations but not doing any work. The atmosphere was heated and workers said that, if they did not get paid next week, the strike would take on a different form.
The chairman of the council of the town of Pula, Tiziano Sošić, said today that the topic of the developments in the Uljanik dock would be put on the agenda of the council’s meeting, set for the first half of September.
On Thursday afternoon, Plenković is expected to receive the Uljanik Group management in Zagreb for the talks on the developments.
