The Railway Infrastructure of Montenegro (ŽICG) has issued a response to the article titled “They announced the suspension of railway traffic if their demands are not met,” which was published on the Vijesti portal.

The statement emphasizes that “anyone involved in illegal actions must understand that they will be held accountable for all legal repercussions and any total material damages incurred.”

We share the complete response below:

“The recent media reports, originating from an employee, contain numerous inaccuracies.

It is unacceptable to portray a singular individual as the ‘most crucial’ staff member within the system while disregarding the vital roles played by all other employees, a total of 800 individuals, who perform intricate and responsible tasks daily.

This management has ended the previous practice of neglecting employees, and has accepted all requests for interviews without exception.

Regarding the salaries of train dispatchers, they range from 730 to 987 euros, based on their tenure; for instance, a dispatcher with 34 years of service receives 987 euros, compared to their peers, electromechanics involved in signaling and safety devices, who receive salaries starting at a minimum of 600 euros, even while working outdoors in varying weather conditions.

To provide the citizens of Montenegro with a clearer picture of salary comparisons within this Company, young engineers, considered a scarce workforce, receive salaries of 808 to 860 euros.

The claim that train dispatchers earned between 600 to 700 euros from 2009 to 2019 is countered by OV payroll records, which show earnings of 425 euros in 2013 and 481 euros in 2019, indicating a nearly 100% increase in their current salaries.

The proposed amendments to the Labor Code intend to increase coefficients for all job roles by at least 20%, with sector directors and their assistants receiving a 16% increase. Consequently, the salaries for the OV will escalate to between 862 and 1,150 euros, resulting in an increase of 120 to 170 euros, with even higher adjustments during holiday months.

Regrettably, this management continues to be addressed regarding events from 2009 to 2019, a period during which they were not permitted to comment on such issues and could not even mention traffic suspensions.

Accusations regarding the removal of seniority benefits and official status should be directed at the previous management, while commissioned officers who meet the necessary criteria still retain their seniority benefits.

The assertion that OVs are leaving the company in droves is contradicted by the fact that since 2022, their numbers have increased by 21, with many interested individuals eager to begin work.

Finally, we appropriately question the seriousness of this media strike announcement, given that proper legal procedures were not adhered to.

The letter lacks a signature and no legal action was initiated for a strike, while the purported author and organizer of the letter was absent on the day planned for the traffic halt, and those supporting the letter’s demands were not officially noted.

Those engaging in illegal activities must understand that they will face all legal consequences along with any total material damages they cause.

The management, under the direction of the Board of Directors, aims to significantly enhance the salaries of all employees; however, we must operate within the constraints of funding available to us as outlined in the Budget and adhere to legal frameworks, as the signatories, besides the management, include representative unions for over 600 employees.

“The management of ŽICG is committed to continually improving working conditions and the financial status of employees, but this must be accomplished exclusively through institutional means, adhering to applicable laws and regulations, rather than through threats and ultimatums,” concludes the Railway Infrastructure’s response.

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