(8 June 2016) The workers of the Court Administrations started strike action 18 May. Workers took to the streets on 8 June to express their anger over the refusal of the government to enter into negotiations. EPSU expressed its solidarity. Public service workers deserve a pay increase after years of austerity.
The conflict goes back to changes in the law on Court administrations in 2014. The union has consistently been arguing that these changes went against the better functioning of the Courts in 2015. The union introduced amendments but these were ignored. The union organized a 2 hour warning strike on 3 December 2015. Instead of entering into dialogue the government quickly introduced new changes on the 31st (!) of December. These changes gave judges and prosecutors a 35% pay rise. They did nothing for the Court workers despite that these workers are essential to make courts (judges and prosecutors) function well. Workers were angry and organised a 3-day strike 22-25 March 2016. On 25 March 3000 workers marched in Skopje. They protested the law and the lack of pay increases despite inflation and lack of equal treatment with those higher in the hierarchy.
Workers anger over the unfair treatment and the dismissive attitude of the government for their demands remained. And on 18 May they started the ongoing strike. In reaction, the government started to register all strikers. It organises threats and intimidation according to the union representatives.
North Macedonia
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