Health professionals threaten with general strike if their demands are not met

Protesters from ten cantons of Bosnia's Federation (FBiH) entity gathered in Sarajevo, to take a peaceful walk from the Federation Parliament's building to the state parliament, where they reiterated requests regarding their status.

Doctors claim that their union at the FBiH level is unable to achieve the right to representativeness, which would enable doctors to sign their own collective agreements.

“Today we expect to convey a clear message to those tailoring the laws, to urgently amend the laws enabling our representativeness. That means enabling us to represent ourselves alone,” said Admir Suljic, head of Tuzla Canton union of medical and dental practitioners.

If the protest yields no result, they will start a general strike in the whole FBiH entity and consider further measures, said Suljic.

Rijad Zaid, Head of the FBiH Union of Medical and Dental Practitioners, said they want the Parliament and the Government to address the issue at their next sessions.

“We refuse to be hostages of rude leaders who are incapable of solving a simple administrative problem. If by end of the month this issue is not solved, we will start a general strike on the territory of entire FBiH,” said Zaid.