ZAGREB, August 27, 2018 – Following a meeting with government officials in Zagreb on Monday, representatives of the striking committee in the Uljanik and 3. Maj shipyards, whose workers have been on a strike since last Wednesday over unpaid wages for July, said that money for two monthly wages could be secured by the end of the week and that the strike would end after they received their wages for July.
Around 11.30 am, some 1,000 workers of the Uljanik and 3. Maj shipyards arrived at St. Mark’s Square, where the government headquarters is located, to stage a protest at which they demanded that the management of the Uljanik Group, which includes both shipyards, step down.
One of the two wages would be paid and the other one would be ensured, and talks on the matter are under way with several banks. After workers are given wages for July, they will end the strike, said union leader Đino Šverko.
Workers of the Uljanik Group, which consists of seven companies, including Pula’s Uljanik and Rijeka’s 3. Maj, have been on a strike since Wednesday.
The meeting between the striking committee and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and the relevant government ministers, focusing on ways to help the two shipyards survive, lasted more than an hour.
The Uljanik Group said earlier that it needed around 100 million euro in the next four months to continue with ship construction and pay overhead costs and wages. In case that amount is secured, government collateral in the amount of 250 million euro would not have to be activated.
The government considers the group’s management the most responsible for the group’s current situation.
