May Day protest in Zenica: Workers warn “this is just the beginning” as steel plant shutdown sparks outrage

The protest, organized by the Metalworkers’ Union of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, took place on May 1 in front of the company’s headquarters, drawing workers from across sectors. They gathered to support employees after production was halted, leaving the future of the plant uncertain.

“We represent workers and workers’ rights, and we will stay on that path until the very end. With your support, everything is possible - together we are strongest,” a union representative told the crowd.

Support also came from employees of public broadcaster BHRT, who joined the rally in solidarity and highlighted challenges facing the public service.

Union representatives said they had received numerous messages of support, stressing that workers “are not alone” in their struggle. Some of those messages were read during the rally.

They also underscored the plant’s economic importance, noting that over the past 21 years workers produced more than 16 million tons of steel, generating hundreds of millions in public revenue through taxes and contributions.

Rasid Fetic of the Zenica Steelworkers’ Union sharply criticized company leadership.

“Shame on you - in five months you have taken us back 30 years,” he said, adding that 394 workers had lost their lives over the years building the industry.

“I will never apologize for what I say. I have a mandate to answer to these workers, not to you,” Fetic said, responding to criticism from management.

Kenan Mujkanovic, head of the Metalworkers’ Union in Zenica-Doboj Canton, called on authorities to implement a plan for state-owned Energoinvest to take over the plant and restart production.

He warned that rising prices are eroding workers’ purchasing power while company profits continue to grow.

“Wages must increase, and workers must have clearly defined rights. This is no longer a matter of goodwill, but of social survival,” he said.

Unions stressed that shutting down steel production and losing thousands of jobs “is not and will never be an option.”

“We want to work, to build, and to live from our labor – not to become a burden on the state,” Mujkanovic said.

Workers concluded that the May Day protest marks the beginning, not the end, of their fight to preserve one of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s key industrial systems.