Strike Announced at Vjesnik Printing House and Narodne Novine

The Graphic Workers’ Union announced today a one-day strike at Vjesnik Printing House and Narodne Novine on June 28, demanding that the Government resolve the financial issues that these companies have encountered due to the losses of the daily newspaper Vjesnik.

The daily newspaper Vjesnik was merged with the Printing House from 1999 to 2008, during which time it had to cover 300 million kuna of its losses, and since 2008 it has been merged with Narodne Novine, which had to cover a loss of 47 million kuna as a result, stated the union president Stjepan Kolarić at a press conference. “We are asking the Government for financial consolidation of the Printing House, separation of Vjesnik from Narodne Novine, and the adoption of a transparent decision regarding further financing and the fate of the Vjesnik newspaper,” emphasized Kolarić. “We have previously sought resolution of the issues from the relevant institutions, but as various ministers have been ‘passing the ball’ regarding responsibility for this case, we are now directing our demands to Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Šuker,” Kolarić stressed.

Due to losses caused by political decisions, the value of the Printing House has fallen from an initial 400 kuna to 100 kuna per share, and on the stock exchange, the shares are worth only 24 kuna. Regarding Narodne Novine, the Vjesnik newspaper is currently causing them a loss of three million kuna per month, Kolarić added. The economic crisis has already severely shaken both companies, which are experiencing declines in revenue and orders, and due to the losses they had to cover in previous years, they have been unable to invest in technological advancement and development. The Government has no management strategy, and the union fears the worst. If the current policy continues, by the end of the year, there will be salary reductions and layoffs in the Printing House, Narodne Novine, and the Vjesnik newspaper, and all 1,100 jobs in these three companies could be at risk, union representatives warn. If the one-day strike does not yield any results, the union announces the start of a strike on July 5 until their demands are met. (H)