Andrej Kaluđerović, a representative of the Railway Infrastructure Workers’ Group (ŽICG), stated that the Ministry of Transport and ŽICG’s assertions regarding a number of employees who halted train operations not wanting to return to work are false.

Kaluđerović further informed “Vijesti” that an additional ten ŽICG workers have joined their cause, increasing the total to approximately 95.

“It is entirely untrue that anyone has departed; ten more workers have joined, making our numbers 95 or 96. The company now has only five or six individuals who can handle the work,” Kaluđerović highlighted.

The Ministry of Transport and ŽICG announced that some employees are willing to accept the proposed conditions and are ready to return to work, thereby allowing for a gradual resumption of rail traffic. They added that Kaluđerović’s assertions are inaccurate, claiming that he has declined opportunities for negotiations and insisted on demands that he knew were illegal, ultimately rejecting the final collective agreement offer.

Kaluđerović mentioned that workers have received invitations for informal discussions, but only under the condition that he does not attend. He reiterated that they have not turned down the salary increase proposal from the ŽICG management and Ministry of Transport; rather, they are requesting assurances regarding the adoption of the collective agreement—along with monthly payments of 200 euros until that time.

A group of 85 ŽICG employees, including train dispatchers, remote control dispatchers (TC), and traffic dispatchers, suspended their work indefinitely on Friday, halting train operations across Montenegro.

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