The Sloga trade union announced today that “dissatisfied Serbian Post workers will hold a protest gathering for mutual support today, 25 December [at the headquarters of Serbian Post and Radio Television of Serbia, Belgrade]. Workers will be joined by students from 17 different faculties, who have unanimously decided to support their demands, standing with them in their fight for rights and dignified working conditions.”
[The Sloga union is one of Serbia’s independent trade unions, known for its activist approach.]
Stefan Mitrović, President of the Sloga Postal Workers’ Union, called for unity among all Serbian Post employees, emphasising that solidarity is crucial for success in this struggle.
“There’s money for everything except postal workers,” Mitrović pointed out, referring to years of questionable and inappropriate spending of company funds. “Billions are being spent on suspicious contracts, tenders, rebranding exercises and trade fair sponsorships, whilst workers are being pushed to the brink of survival. Enough is enough!”
Mitrović emphasised the significance of student support, highlighting their solidarity and determination.
The gathering aims to draw attention to the workers’ long-standing issues, management’s failure to respond to their demands, and to agree on further steps in the fight for workers’ rights. “It’s time for Serbian Post workers to organise, raise their voices and stand up for their rights,” Mitrović added.
[This alliance between postal workers and student protesters is particularly significant in the context of wider anti-government demonstrations across Serbia. The postal service, as a state-owned enterprise, has historically been used as a political tool through patronage appointments and resource allocation.]
Mitrović stressed that the gathering and meeting with students will proceed peacefully and with dignity, emphasising that solidarity is key to achieving changes within Serbian Post.
[The Serbian Post Office employs over 15,000 workers nationwide and serves as a crucial public service, particularly in rural areas. Recent years have seen increasing pressure to privatise or “optimise” the service, leading to concerns about job security and working conditions.]