Skopje, 6 July 2022 (MIA) – The Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia (SSM) will file a class-action lawsuit on the disparity between the collective agreements and the Minimum Wage Law. The lawsuit, SSM President Darko Dimovski said, will be filed in domestic and foreign courts. “SSM will file a class-action lawsuit in domestic courts and in the Council of Europe, on the basis of the disrespecting of the collective agreements, lack of social dialogue, which we had in the past, as well as on the basis of aligning laws with the collective agreements,” said Dimovski at Wednesday’s session of the SSM Presidency. He called on the Government, if they really have the will to do it, to align the collective agreements, to announce it publicly and to sign an agreement which will guarantee the adjustment of the other wages in accordance with the minimum wage increase. “If the Government is truly ready to harmonize the collective agreements with the minimum wage increase, they should say so. Until September, we, the workers, will find a way to survive, but we need to know and sign an agreement which will guarantee us 18.4% from September,” said Dimovski. Regarding the public sector strike, Dimovski informed they will seek other forms of pressure to express their dissatisfaction. “SSM is not looking for a wage increase, but aligment of all wages with the minimum wage increase,” said Dimovski. The public sector strike began on June 22. Until now, the union signed wage aligment agreements with 33 public enterprises, which cover over 12.000 workers, and negotiations with another 12 communal enterprises are ongoing. Agreements were signed with 5 municipalities as well, while negotiations with another 14 municipalities are ongoing. ad/ba/