If negotiations for salary increases in public services do not commence in May, public service unions will consider the possibility of initiating union actions, including a strike, after consulting with their membership due to years of salary stagnation in these sectors, announced Vilim Ribić, president of the Croatian Trade Union Confederation, on Monday.
Ribić assessed at a press conference that the stagnation of salaries in healthcare, education, culture, and social care is concerning, reminding that the average salary base in January 2008 was 5,134 kuna, while in January last year it was 5,272 kuna. This is the largest salary stagnation in Europe, claims Ribić, thus a salary increase of 17 percent is necessary to return to pre-crisis levels.
>>>Unions: The most miserable salaries are in Romania, followed by Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, and Croatia
Last year, the salary base was increased three times by two percent, but the final effect is less than six percent, so that in January last year the base was 5,272 kuna, and in January this year it was 5,421 kuna.
– The government has deceived us by not fulfilling the provisions of the 2008 agreement, according to which salaries were supposed to increase after two consecutive quarters of GDP growth above two percent. The blame lies with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Martina Dalić and Minister of Finance Zdravko Marić, and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković is also aware of this, says Ribić.
>>>Pavić: Higher salaries for civil servants with better evaluations
When conditions for salary increases were met thanks to GDP growth, the government disputed the validity of the agreement, pretending to know nothing about it.
– The state deceives its citizens, and that is unacceptable, Ribić stated, adding that this way the trust of citizens is undermined, who in a disorganized state lack security and the ability to solve problems, which is why they are emigrating.
The economy was affected by job losses during the crisis, but salary stagnation was less than in public services. Reckless policies of cuts and tightening have led to a suppression of demand, and thus production, which has reflected in job losses, emigration, and negative demographic trends, believes Ribić.
>>>Mihalinec: The government has deceived 180,000 employees in public services and their families
The state has money, as evidenced by the fulfillment of the demands of war veterans. We are demanding what has been taken from us, and that is realistic, Ribić states, accusing the authorities of manipulating citizens and satisfying clientelist needs in politics.
Branimir Mihalinec, president of the Independent Union of Secondary School Employees, assessed that the government “maintains a continuity of deception” – signs an agreement, then violates it. For example, a directive regarding the payment of travel expenses is sent to schools contrary to the signed Basic Collective Agreement.
