Holding: The strike is illegal, we call on workers to return to work

The President of the Management Board of Zagrebački holding Ivan Novaković stated on Tuesday, the second day of the strike by Čistoća workers, that the strike is illegal as the collective agreement is fully respected, calling on workers to return to work.

– The strike that is taking place while the collective agreement is fully respected and while a mediation process is ongoing, which is the case in Čistoća, we consider illegal. We call on workers to return to work, and the unions back to the negotiating table – said Novaković at a press conference.

The holding has taken into account inflation and increased pressure on workers due to the introduction of a new waste collection model, which is why negotiations with the unions regarding an increase in workers’ material rights were initiated last autumn, added Novaković.

However, since the negotiations were unsuccessful, the mediation process began this month.

– The holding has gone through a painful restructuring process, exiting the crisis and addressing losses. We simply do not have the money for a significant increase in material rights, which would not be passed on to the citizens’ accounts – noted the Chairman of the Board.

Novaković emphasized that the average increase in monthly net salaries for January ranges between 74 euros for workers in higher categories of job complexity and 94 euros for communal workers.

In the event that the strike continues, there is a possibility that someone else will take over the waste collection job, said the head of Čistoća Davor Vić.

– That is the last alternative, the last thing I would want to happen. Zagreb needs a public company that deals with waste collection, it is in the public interest – he said.

Vić added that problems with waste collection will persist as long as all containers are not locked.

When asked about his resignation, he said he does not intend to resign, but it is always on the table.

– As for the strike, I did not say that the situation is chaotic, but that it has gone out of control, it is not organized, it is not announced, and representatives of the unions are not participating in it – he stated.

One of the reasons for initiating the strike was the decision to terminate three workers who were filmed throwing different types of waste into the same truck, but the termination decision was later withdrawn.

– Yesterday we had more workers who talked to us, we found that the sanction was too severe, considering what all the workers are facing in the field – said Board member Matija Subašić Maras.

Although the Holding’s management considers the strike illegal, they stated that they will not call the police, and they cannot promise workers something they cannot fulfill.

– One of the models is to seek a court injunction, but first, it needs to be established who should be prohibited from striking – said Subašić Maras.