The Union Claims That the Management of 3. Maj Announced Resignations; Management Denies It

Juraj Šoljić, the commissioner of the Metalworkers’ Union of Croatia at 3. Maj, claims that the management of the shipyard 3. Maj, led by CEO Tomislav Prpić, announced today at a meeting with representatives of two unions and the Workers’ Council that they would resign.

From the Public Relations Office of 3. Maj, in response to Hina’s inquiry, they conveyed a message from CEO Tomislav Prpić that the management will not resign.

The meeting of representatives of the management, unions, and the Workers’ Council was held, Šoljić told Hina, at the initiative of the management, after the workers’ gathering at 3. Maj, which started yesterday, concluded today. The gathering was organized by the Workers’ Council, and today, without the presence of journalists, more than 1,000 shipbuilders participated, who again demanded the resignation of the management and the appointment of a new professional leadership for the company. In addition to the workers, the branch of the Metalworkers’ Union of Croatia and the Union of Shipyard 3. Maj also demanded the resignation of the management yesterday, believing that it is urgently necessary to appoint a new professional leadership for the company, which would secure new jobs for the shipyard, whose order book is empty.

If these demands are not met by November 7, or if the management does not fulfill the announcement that they will resign, the unions will organize a general strike, Šoljić confirmed today, adding that a written request for the dismissal of the management has been submitted to the Supervisory Board of 3. Maj.

According to the chairwoman of the Workers’ Council, Nada Jelinić Starčević, it was planned at today’s continuation of the gathering that the management and representatives of the two unions involved in the privatization negotiations would inform the workers about that process and negotiations with the government. However, the workers again expressed dissatisfaction today, she said, and demanded the resignation of the management, which they consider responsible for poor business decisions and lack of work, and supported the unions’ announcement that if their demands are not met, they will organize a general strike.

Furthermore, the workers emphasized that, in addition to quality management, the shipyard needs state support during the period until it resumes normal operations and that this is currently a more important issue than the privatization of the shipyard, Jelinić Starčević stated. She added that a call was again sent from today’s gathering to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Labor, and Entrepreneurship, Damir Polančec, to visit 3. Maj as soon as possible. (Hina)