(12 November 2008) Municipal services are in a terrible state and the government does not provide the services for the infrastructure investment and for decent wages.

33% of water networks, 60% of municipal infrastructure, 90% of urban transport are on the brink of collapse. There is a lack of qualified work force. The unions take action to draw attention to the state of affairs and to demand proper investment and decent wages. The government is asked to change the 2009 budget.

See the Municipal workers trade union statement below.

THE POPULATION NEEDS QUALITY SERVICES, PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS NEED DECENT WAGES!

Housing and communal infrastructure has exhausted and is on the edge of collapse. Communal infrastructure is 60% worn, as a result the number of accidents has increased in 5 times during the last decade. 33% of water supply networks, 18% of heating networks are in emergency condition. 90% of trolleybuses and trams have been in exploitation more than their normative service life. Every forth lift is potentially dangerous for the population and are maintenance staff. 90% of garbage dumps do not meet environmental norms.

There is a huge lack of qualified workers in the sector where the wages are among the lowest in the country.

The draft state budget 2009 does not provide resources for reforming, developing and ensuring stable operation of communal enterprises.

AIM OF THE ACTION:
 to draw attention of authorities to the problems of vital services;
 to demand to ensure proper public financing of the sector, stable and safe operation of housing and communal enterprises, decent labour conditions and decent wages for public sector workers.

We demand to prevent human-caused accidents and catastrophes, to not allow frozen and flooded cities and towns, destroyed houses, deaths in public electrotransport and lifts, infectious disease epidemics caused by poor technical condition of water supply networks and sewerages and improper waste utilisation.

We call to ensure life safety and cosiness in every household. We support introduction of grounded tariffs on housing and communal services and their regulation by the relevant regulatory body.

We demand decent wages in housing and communal sector.

Participants in the action, all workers of the sector demand to review draft state budget 2009 and provide for the proper financing of the State Program of Reforming and Development of Housing and Communal Sector, program on provision of quality clean water to population, introduction of energy saving technologies in housing sector, modernisation of heating, water supply and sewerage networks, organisation of waste collection and utilisation.