Zagreb Stopped: Only Two Trams Running, Čistoća Sends 20 Trucks

The turnout of workers for the strike at ZET and Zagreb Holding has been significant since early morning. Only one tram has left the depot, while the unions have secured 20 trucks for the necessary waste collection. Union representatives state that they are ready to continue negotiations and have softened some of their demands in the meantime.

The strike of workers from the Zagreb Electric Tram and Zagreb Holding, which began on Monday at 3:30 AM, has severely impacted city transport and some municipal services.

Vladimir Jozić, President of the Union of Drivers and Traffic Personnel at ZET, stated in the morning that the turnout of workers is very high and that only one tram has gone into service.

– The strike is ongoing, and so far the turnout is very good or large. One tram has gone out, a colleague expressed a desire to drive. We agreed that we do not prohibit anyone’s right to work, so she went out – tram line number 17 – Jozić said for Croatian Radio.

According to him, trams have not left the depots in Ljubljanica and Dubrava, nor have buses left the garages in Podsused, Dubrava, and Velika Gorica.

All services monitoring traffic safety are still operational. The unions, Jozić says, have proposed to work with intervention teams that must respond in case of a wire break in the overhead line, and transportation for school children has also been organized.

– We have not agreed on necessary jobs, it is not our fault, we are waiting for arbitration – he said.

Unions: The strike has no predetermined end

The unions do not currently specify a date by which the strike could last.

– The moment we reach an agreement, the strike will be interrupted and traffic will begin to function normally – Jozić stated, adding that they are waiting for a call from Mayor Tomislav Tomašević and that they are ready to sit back at the negotiating table.

The mayor has been at the Traffic Management Center since morning, the City of Zagreb reported.

The strike was preceded by unsuccessful negotiations regarding new collective agreements, mediation procedures, and additional meetings between the unions and management. ZET had already called on citizens on Sunday to expect significantly longer travel times and, where possible, to find alternative means of transportation.

Čistoća Secured 20 Trucks for Necessary Waste Collection

The strike also began at Čistoća, but the unions have agreed with the branch management that 20 trucks will carry out the necessary waste collection from hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and nursing homes.

Mumin Hodžić, speaking on behalf of the negotiating committee of the Zagreb Holding unions, stated that waste will be collected as needed from locations where larger quantities can accumulate, such as large residential buildings, citing Mamutica in Novi Zagreb as an example.

– This is our contribution before the arbitration on the number of necessary workers for essential jobs is completed, which continues at 1 PM. We have accommodated the employer because we are responsible and do not want these institutions to suffer the consequences of our strike – Hodžić said.

According to him, 20 trucks represent more than a quarter of the capacity of the first shift of Čistoća.

Zagreb Holding also warned before the strike began that the work stoppage could most affect waste collection and the maintenance of public and green areas.

Roads, Zrinjevac, and Parking Only Respond in Emergencies

In other branches, workers will intervene when it is necessary to prevent danger to citizens or ensure the functioning of key services.

Employees of Zagreb Roads, according to the union’s announcement, will go into the field in case of a traffic signal failure or other problems that could jeopardize traffic safety.

Zrinjevac workers will intervene, for example, in the case of fallen trees, while Zagrebparking will respond if a parked vehicle obstructs access to a hospital.

Burials are Regularly Maintained

– In case of need, we are ready to respond and send employees from any branch to the field – Hodžić said.

Negotiating committee member Sandra Crnković called on workers to be dignified and united during the strike.

– Zagreb Holding is a large system, the strike committee will visit all its branches to be available to the workers who supported them for the strike – she said.

Unions: We Have Reduced Our Demands

Dražen Jović, President of the Union of Transport and Municipal Services of Croatia, stated in front of ZET’s Remiza that the unions have already reduced their demands during negotiations.

According to him, they have been trying to reach a compromise for more than 120 days.

– We have reduced our demands towards ZET. We lowered the base from 15 to 13 percent, we are asking for a discussion about a permanent allowance and the date of implementation, a discussion about the reimbursement of transportation costs at the level of 100 percent, depending on the choice of workers, and a loyalty bonus for workers from 0.20 to 0.15 – Jović said.

Union demands also include a new collective agreement for two or three years and a wage indexation model.

Jović claims that the unions have corrected their proposals multiple times, but on the other hand, they have not received a proposal that could lead to an agreement.

According to data provided by the unions, 78 percent of ZET workers and 74 percent of Zagreb Holding workers who expressed their opinion supported the strike.

Goran Vučemilović, President of the Union of Bus and Tram Transport at ZET, also stated that the unions have corrected their proposals three times.

– We will have to sit at the table, either today or tomorrow, whenever, but negotiations must be in good faith – Jović stated.

The unions and city companies have not yet reached an agreement on a new collective agreement or the scope of necessary jobs. While arbitration on necessary services is ongoing, the strike continues without a predetermined end date.

ZET Chief Desperate Due to Strike: ‘I Am Not Well. Drivers, Return to the Controls’

Marko Bogdanović, President of the Management Board of ZET, stated in an interview for HRT that he does not feel well due to the strike and called on drivers to change their decision during the day and return to the controls of trams and buses.

– I am not well, certainly not well. As you can see, the strike started today as announced. Currently, we have one employee who is not on strike. A tram just went out. One bus on line 330, the fast line from the Main Station to Velika Gorica, is also on its way – Bogdanović said.

On this occasion, I would also call on other drivers to change their decision, to join the people who will not strike today, and I believe there will be more of them as the day goes on,” he stated.

When asked about the situation on the streets of Zagreb and whether there are major traffic jams due to the absence of public transport, Bogdanović said that he did not have new information at that moment.

– I hope that everything is somewhat going smoothly and peacefully and that there are not such large traffic jams, but we are certainly monitoring the situation. We will see how it will develop further – he said.

Bogdanović expressed regret that citizens found themselves in such a situation. He said he hopes that people will reach their workplaces or the destinations they need to get to today. How long the strike could last, ZET cannot assess at this time.

– It is absolutely impossible to say at this moment – Bogdanović said.

– I can only tell you what we stated yesterday, which is that the doors for any communication are open, that the phones are open. Absolutely nothing needs to stop regarding communication and the eventual resumption of negotiations – concluded the President of the Management Board of ZET, Marko Bogdanović.