The Ministry of education called the Labor union for cooperation!
Dissatisfied with the position of educational workers and stand of the Government of BPC Gorazde on that issue, the Cantonal Committee of the Federation of unions of secondary education made a Decision on going on strike of the employees from all secondary schools in BPC Gorazde, scheduled for 30 January 2006.
In the view of that, the Ministry of education, science, culture and sport BPC Gorazde issued the following statement on 23 January 2006:
“It is the opinion of the Ministry of education, science, culture and sport that demands of the educational workers in BPC Gorazde, referring to improvement of their status, are justified, but it also expresses its disagreement with the decision made by the Cantonal Committee of the Federation of unions of secondary education on going on strike, scheduled for 30 January 2006.
One of the reasons that supports this position of the Ministry of education is that the Government, in its 143 regular meeting, held on 17 January 2006 adopted Act on defining salary grades for employees working in primary and secondary schools, harmonizing salaries and other reimbursements of the Cantonal budget beneficiaries with the General Collective Agreement.
According to this Act, basis for salary accounting is 308 KM, reimbursement for meals amounts to 5,20 KM per day and reimbursement for vacation amounts to 270 KM. All this will burden the budget of BPC Gorazde with additional 1.200.000 KM.
Although it has due respect for all demands of the educational workers, the Ministry of education, science, culture and sport is not entitled to make promises on increase of their salaries for 20% under current circumstances, as the Federal budget has not been adopted yet. Beside that, Law on public revenues, which defines support to Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde, has not been passed on Federal level up to date.
This Ministry has shown its readiness for discussions and negotiations with educational labor unions and there is no reason that these discussions are continued in mutual appreciation and understanding.
We expect that the Cantonal Committee of the Federation of unions of secondary education will understand all the above circumstances and that we will find solution acceptable to all educational workers and all those who participate in distribution of Cantonal budget,” says this statement.
After announcement on general strike of employees in the secondary schools in Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde, the Government of the Canton established a Team for negotiations led by the Minister of education
In its 2nd regular meeting, held on 24 January 2006, the Government of Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde, chaired by Prime Minister Nazif Uruci, established a Team for negotiations with the Cantonal Committee of the Federation of unions of secondary education after its decision on going on general strike, scheduled for 30 January 2006.
On 23 January 2006, the Cantonal Committee of the Federation of unions of secondary education addressed to the Ministry of education, science, culture and sport its Decision on launching initiative for amicable solution of the dispute with the Ministry of education.
Educational workers are demanding increase of salary basis for 20%, while the negotiation team stands for the recently adopted Act on defining salary grades for employees in primary and secondary schools. By applying this Act, salaries of educational workers will be higher with regards to the previous period and it is to be assumed that the negotiations teams will find acceptable solution before 30 January, all in accordance with available funds in the budget of Bosnian-Podrinje canton Gorazde.