Herzegovina-Neretva Canton healthcare workers threaten general strike over wage dispute

The workers feel unfairly treated because doctors’ salaries have been raised multiple times, while other healthcare staff have seen no such increases. The government had previously explained that doctors' wages had to be raised because they had nearly matched those of medical staff. However, the healthcare union counters this, saying that now cleaners’ salaries have nearly equaled those of nurses.

Dalibor Vukovic from the HNK Healthcare Workers' Union told the media that it’s time to end this drawn-out struggle.

“We’re preparing for a general strike. This is the final warning. Up to now, we haven’t received a single formal offer. That speaks volumes about how seriously the HNK Government is taking this. We have information that the Ministry of Health is in total disarray. We hope the Municipal Court in Mostar will allow us to launch a general strike. We urge the authorities to find the necessary funds,” said Vukovic.

Last week, the Government stated that healthcare workers already have the highest salary coefficients. They offered to amend the hourly rate to 3 BAM and align it with other collective agreements, including benefits like vacation bonuses.

According to the Government’s estimates, fulfilling the union’s demands would require an additional 2 million BAM. However, union leaders dispute this figure.