Protests across Serbia were held on International Labor Day, when it marked six months since the fall of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad. What happened in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš?
U Belgrade students and trade unions organized a joint protest in front of the Serbian Government building. The protest started at 14 p.m.
Photo: TimeProtest in Belgrade
Students announced the end of the gathering
A group of citizens who were protesting in front of the Government building headed towards Pionirski Park a little after 16:XNUMX, even though the students declared the end of the gathering, reports a FoNet reporter.
A police cordon separates them, while members of the demonstration break-up units are coming from the direction of the parliament.
Citizens shout "pump" and "those who don't jump are shot".
Address on the plateau
The meeting was addressed by students and trade union representatives.
Željko Veselinović, president of the united trade unions, said that the students united the trade unions, to stand together on one stage, reports N1.
"140 years ago, some people fought for us to have some kind of rights. Today, neoliberal capitalism tramples on people and their rights. Capital and profit come first, man does not exist. You, young people, will certainly not allow someone to force you to wear diapers in a Jura... We have been fighting against it for years, but the institutions are not giving us any," he said.
Zoran Marković, on behalf of the Association of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia, asked if it was fair if foreign investors (whose arrival he welcomed) paid workers in Serbia three euros per hour, and paid the same or less qualified workers at home 10.
"We have to say - we don't want a minimum!" said Marković.
Ivica Cvetanović, president of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions, said that the amendments to the Labor Law and the Law on Strikes are just the beginning.
"We are here because of these young people. What will we do with freelancers? They work, pay taxes, but have no security? And that needs to be regulated. What will we do with those who are not 65 years old, but have more than 40 years of service - their pension is reduced forever. Repeal the Act on Agency Employment, what will that do for us? We expect to start a quality social dialogue as soon as possible. The ministers are new, so let them prove themselves," he said.
The president of the "Nezavisnost" Trade Union Čedanka Andrić said that the labor legislation is a priority that they will stand for together.
She said that they have the capacity to propose the best solutions for amending these laws and that the Government and the ministry must react urgently.
"These laws won't change overnight, but our patience won't last forever either," she said.
What do students say?
One student said that they are seeking justice for the deceased and injured victims of corruption in Novi Sad.
He pointed out that they are upset that their demands have not been met.
"We continue our fight against corruption in another way. The fight against corruption is also being waged in the workplace. That is why we are asking for changes to the Labor Law and the Law on Strikes, which will restore dignity to all workers," he said, pointing out that students support the trade unions.
16 minutes of silence
After the speaker's address, 16 minutes of silence was held in front of the Government of Serbia.
At 16:XNUMX p.m., the representatives submitted requests to the Government of Serbia requesting changes to the Labor Law and the Law on Strikes.
Union meetings
The trade union "Nezavisnost" organized a meeting on Trg Slavija near the monument to Dimitri Tucović, under the name "The trade union knows - for workers' and democratic restart".
At the protest in Trg Slavija, the "Free Diary" prepared by the employees of Radio-television Vojvodina was presented.
After the presentation of "Dnevnik", Nemanja Grujin pointed out that on Thursday (May 1) there will be a large protest of students and workers who will submit requests to the Government for changes to the Labor Law and the Law on Strikes.
It was emphasized that students and associated unions can exert joint pressure and radicalization in further protests and strikes to demand the fulfillment of demands.
This meeting ended at 14 pm with the reading of the May Day Proclamation.
The Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (ASNS) is organizing an action in Knez Mihailova Street. At 13 p.m., ASNS president Ranka Savić addressed the crowd. At 13.30:XNUMX p.m., they left for the Government of Serbia.
The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia organized a gathering at Nikola Pašić Square from 12 noon, from where they went to the Government of Serbia.
Photo: FoNet/Katarina StankovSSSS gathering at Nikola Pašić Square
Memorial plaque in Novi Sad
Students and citizens in Novi Sad observed 21 minutes of silence for the victims of the demolition of the railway station canopy in that city, as well as for the five victims on the farm near Topola.
After the silence in front of the train station in Novi Sad a memorial plaque was placed, and as the students announced, they then went on a protest walk to the Freedom Bridge.
Students and citizens declared the Railway Station in Novi Sad a memorial center, said one student at a protest in Novi Sad today.
The mayor of Novi Sad, Žarko Mićin, assessed that the manner in which the commemorative plaque was placed near the railway station was an abuse of the accident.
During the protest march in Novi Sad to the Freedom Bridge, the driver tried to drive his car through the column of citizens, but was stopped.
During the protest walk to the Freedom Bridge, the driver tried to drive his car through the column of citizens, but was stopped.#Novi Sadpic.twitter.com/ZdJWauu2JA
After that, the citizens secured the car so that there would be no damage.
The police detained the driver and passenger, reports Radio 021.
Gathering in Novi Sad
The protest gathering, to which residents of Novi Sad municipalities came from different directions in several columns, began at 11.52:21 a.m. at the railway station building, exactly at the time when the canopy collapsed six months ago. 16 minutes of silence was held - for the XNUMX victims of the roof collapse and the five victims on the farm near Topola.
Students covered billboards with banners about government affairs. As previously announced, speeches were held on the Freedom Bridge.
Photo: FoNet/021Billboard
The gathered went from the Freedom Bridge to Limanski Park, where black chairs with the names of the victims were placed on the plateau.
Photo: FoNet/021Chairs for the victims
Also, university professors have set up an exhibition that looks at workers and labor rights.
Gatherings in Belgrade
Students, workers and a large number of citizens celebrate together in Belgrade the Day of Work, Solidarity and Common Struggle, and first of all six months since the fall of the canopy on the railway station building in Novi Sad, when 14 people died, and the number of victims later increased to 16.
The students on the official accounts on the networks previously announced the radicalization of the protests that have been going on for more than five months.
"At this moment, our struggle is moving into the next phase. We no longer stand only in blockades. This is a step towards radicalization that will enable new forms of pressure. The labor law and the strike law are the foundations of the exploitation system. They protect the government, not the workers, and those laws must be changed. We are fighting for the right to live without fear, for workers, for students, for all of us!" stated the blocked students on official accounts, on social networks.
The students had previously joined the gatherings organized by the trade unions on the occasion of the International Labor Day at several locations in Belgrade.
"We invite all citizens to support the legitimate demands of workers and students by their presence on May 1," states the joint statement, which was signed by the president of the Association of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia Ljubisav Orbović, the president of UGS "Nezavisnost" Čedanka Andrić, the president of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions Ranka Savić, the president of USS "Sloga" Željko Veselinović and the president of the Confederation of Free Trade Unions Ivica Cvetanović, reports Nova.
Educators are also joining in.
Educators also responded to the call for a protest, so the Forum of Belgrade High Schools invited all educators who fight for quality education to gather today at 14 p.m. for a large protest of students and trade unionists, writes Nova.
In the announcement, the Forum recalled that even during the large suspension of classes and the strike of educators that began on January 20 of this year, it recognized the need to amend the existing strike law at certain points and pointed out that their goal was to enact a fair strike law and labor law.
Meeting in Niš
On the occasion of six months since the fall of the canopy in Novi Sad, when 16 people were killed, an informal group of students in Niš is organizing a commemorative meeting on May 1. The gathering is at the Basic Court at 20 p.m.
After gathering, the convoy will head towards the bridge near the Fortress, where they will pay their respects to the victims with a 16-minute silence, Juzne Vesti writes.
The students in the blockade in Niš remind that their demands are still not fulfilled and that no one was held accountable for the death of 16 people in Novi Sad.
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