August 9, 2023 – Zadar firefighters marched from Branimirova Obala to Narodni Trg and the city administration building, protesting their low wages and working conditions.
As Index writes, twenty-six members of the Zadar Public Fire Brigade (JVP), who have been on strike since July 24 fighting for their rights and a more dignified salary considering their risky work, protested yesterday in the center of Zadar. They carried banners with messages about their difficult financial situation, asking for a conversation with the authorities about their rights and the collective agreement.
“The city has been ignoring us for months because we are asking for minimum requirements to be negotiated, and we are ready to talk peacefully. We do not agree to blackmail, and we want to talk. The state pays us, and the minority shareholder in JVP, the City of Zadar, makes all the decisions,” said Dino Lilić, the trustee of the branch of the Zajedno Zadar Union.
Deputy Mayor Meets Zadar Firefighters
He added that they are equal to utility workers in terms of rights and salary, yet they risk their lives every day. “We had our last meeting in May, and nothing was agreed on,” asserted Lilić. The goal of the protest is to harmonize the salary with the minimum legal rights prescribed by the state and for the employer to apply more favourable rights for workers.
Deputy Mayor Ante Babić received them on behalf of the city administration. After the meeting, he said he would inform the mayor Branko Dukić about the situation in JVP Zadar by the end of the week. Until now, he was not familiar with the details and could not decide on anything specific, said Babić.
The commissioner of Zajedno Zadar, Dino Lilić, confirmed Babić’s words and added that it is very likely that he will hold a new meeting with the city administration next Monday. The strike of the members of JVP Zadar continues, Zadar firefighters will continue to go out only for emergency interventions, and in yesterday’s protest, they were joined by colleagues from all union branches in the country.
