Workers of 3. Maj Seek Answers on Restructuring, Plan to Block Roads

The main commissioner of the Croatian Metalworkers Union – Industrial Union (SMH-IS) at the 3. Maj Shipyard, Juraj Šoljić, stated on Tuesday that there is still capital, knowledge, and time at 3. Maj to improve the situation, and that workers will take to the streets and block roads if they do not receive answers by May 15 regarding the future of the shipyard.

Šoljić said that workers have been waiting for two weeks for information about what will happen with 3. Maj and that they learned from statements by Danko Končar, a potential investor in Uljanik, that 3. Maj is not included in the restructuring program.

– We, the workers of 3. Maj, are asking the Government, the City of Rijeka, the county, and Uljanik what will happen with 3. Maj considering that we are not included in any version of the restructuring program, and potential investors have not yet expressed their opinions, he said.

He emphasized that the union and the workers of 3. Maj are announcing that if the situation is not resolved after May 15, they will take to the roads.

He warned that they will then resort to civil disobedience, “there will be blockades,” and mentioned the possibility of blocking the Istrian Ypsilon, the tunnel, and “blockades to Zagreb,” urging that they “sit down at the table.”

>>>Danko Končar: There is no chance that Brodotrogir will be shut down

Šoljić stated that wages at 3. Maj were paid on Friday, but they are wondering if they will receive the next one. The materials for the continuation of production have not yet arrived, for the last ship being built, newbuilding no. 528, there is a lack of materials, and there are no further constructions, he noted, adding that unofficially, there is an excess of about 1600 workers, which means that almost the entire 3. Maj is a compensatory measure for Uljanik.

When asked about the alleged withdrawal of orders for the construction of five ships at Uljanik, Šoljić replied that, according to media reports, it concerns a total of five ships, of which at least one was ordered at 3. Maj, meaning that neither newbuilding 529 nor newbuilding 734 will be constructed there.

He pointed out that this is unofficial information and that is why they are appealing to the Government to urgently organize a meeting with potential investors. He reminded that the Government provided guarantees for those newbuildings and that cancellation means the collection of guarantees, i.e., that compensation must be paid to shipowners for each ship.

>>>3. Maj Achieved a Profit of Three Million Kuna

Šoljić stated that there are currently 1364 workers employed at 3. Maj, and there are about 200 more workers in joint services, who have been employees of Uljanik since March. He added that even about 130 workers from the former motor factory in Rijeka, now Uljanik Machine Engineering, do not know what will happen to them.

“We still have knowledge and capital, but we want to build ships in Rijeka,” said Šoljić, asking: “Do we have to leave the country to work in shipbuilding?” He added that it is still unknown what Fincantieri wants with 3. Maj.

“Nothing is acceptable to the workers except for the construction of floating objects, from the project to the handover. If something else were to be pursued, there would be a large surplus, greater than 1400 people, and we do not even know under what conditions,” he said.

To the local government and self-government, Šoljić conveyed that they cannot sit on the sidelines, receive information, and say nothing, that 3. Maj has always had their support, but, he added, they should pursue an active policy since about 1700 people work at 3. Maj.

>>>On April 20, announcement of the value of 3. Maj’s real estate TIBO

Union committee member Boris Bućanac stated that there has been no work in the workshop where the hull elements of the ship are made for months and that people are being sent to jobs outside of 3. Maj. “What will the Government do with us? Will we stay at the shipyard? Are we needed or should we all seek visas to leave Croatia?” asked Šoljić, adding: “And if that is their message, let them be clearer and resolve our agony so that we know what to do.”

He emphasized that the workers of the Rijeka shipyard do not have olive groves and apartments, that they are educated and have been working in shipbuilding for years and have no alternative.

Hull assembler Predrag Knežević referred to the loan of 523 million kuna that 3. Maj gave to Uljanik and stated that this money is not being returned and that 3. Maj is in its current situation precisely because of that unpaid loan.

He added that convoys of materials worth about 300 thousand kuna have been taken from 3. Maj to Pula, and that no one knows where that material is now.