Unions and SSM urge MPs to approve linear wage increase amendment

Skopje, 1 July 2022 (MIA) – Representatives of the bodies and organs of the member unions of the Federation of Trade Unions (SSM) staged a protest in front of Parliament demanding that the MPs who are members of the Financing and Budgeting Committee support the SSM’s amendment to revise the budget for linear wage increases.

"I am sending a clear message to the MPs who are members of this Committee, for which we placed 14 chairs with eight yellow cards, because they didn’t vote for this draft amendment for a linear wage increase of MKD 2,806 for every worker, to wake up and vote for this amendment, because all of these workers behind me are waiting for their “yes” vote, and if not, we will name these MPs and demand they resign, because a “no” vote means they’re against the workers and the people in these tough times,” said SSM President, Darko Dimovski.

Dimovski said that the strike continues, and that they’re negotiating with five municipalities and twelve public utility companies.

"The strike continues everywhere in the public sector, but I have to reiterate that we’re negotiating with five municipalities and twelve public utility companies, which we will continue throughout next week, and then we will call you into a press conference where we will publicly say ‘No thanks, we don’t want the money anymore, we want the guilty MPs, ministers, mayors, directors of companies and institutions to resign, and we will also name the places where there has been an effect, which is 25 public utility companies and five municipalities at the moment,” he said.

Dimovski said that he believes that the worst punishment of all is being asked to resign because they’re not doing their job right, in response to a question about a possible radicalization of the protests. dk/ba/