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County Court Prohibits Strike at Croatia Airlines – Union Did Not Negotiate in Good Faith

The County Court in Zagreb on Thursday issued a decision prohibiting the strike at Croatia Airlines (CA), reasoning that the defendant – the union Organization of Workers of Croatia Airlines (ORCA) did not negotiate in good faith for the conclusion of a new collective agreement and does not wish to resolve the resulting dispute amicably.

This is indicated by the fact that the ORCA Union withdrew from further negotiations after its proposal for a collective agreement was not accepted, states the court’s reasoning.

>>>Butković: I Did Not Influence the Court and the Decision to Prohibit the Strike at Croatia Airlines

If the defendant had a genuine intention to negotiate the conclusion of a collective agreement, the court concludes that it would have continued negotiations after withdrawing in November 2017, which followed the cancellation of the strike announced that year, since the CA management invited the Union to further negotiations, specifically to meetings on January 3, 10, and 17, 2018.

It is also noted that the management continued to implement the old collective agreement after its expiration on December 31, 2016, fulfilling all workers’ rights that were stipulated by that agreement.

A memorandum was also signed between the management and the union in August 2017, when the workers fully accepted the payment and implementation of all rights from the collective agreement that had expired.

>>>ORCA Union Begins Strike on Wednesday, Croatia Airlines Cancels Flights

Therefore, the Court concludes that the union did not enable the conclusion of a new collective agreement through its actions, as it did not act in good faith, and the announced industrial action – strike, scheduled for August 8, 2018, was determined to be unlawful.

The union is prohibited from organizing and conducting the strike announced for August 8, the court’s decision states.

>>>Croatia Airlines: We Will Lose 800 Thousand Euros Daily Due to the Strike

The management of Croatia Airlines states that they welcome the mentioned court decision, which, at the peak of the tourist season, still allows the company to carry out regular (scheduled) flight operations, enabling passengers to reach their desired destinations. The management also calls on social partners to return to collective negotiations, believing that reasonable behavior and dialogue can lead to a mutually acceptable solution for the benefit of all employees and Croatia Airlines in the future.