Zenica miners protest in Sarajevo over unpaid wages and retirement rights

“The Union Committee of the Trade Union Organization of the Zenica Brown Coal Mine today around 9 a.m. led its members to the previously scheduled protest in front of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Government building in Sarajevo, where they were joined by colleagues from other mines within the Elektroprivreda BiH public enterprise group,” said the union’s president, Nedzad Durakovic.

He stated that about 150 of the roughly 525 remaining workers from the Zenica mine left for Sarajevo, and they were joined at the Railway Station square by an additional 300 to 350 colleagues from other mines.

The Zenica miners gathered a few days ago in front of the management building of the Zenica Brown Coal Mine, which was only the first step toward organizing a strike/protest in front of the FBiH Government building. At that time, they demanded the payment of wages and the retirement of miners who had met all the conditions for retirement as far back as last year.

They emphasize that their main demands are the respect of the Collective Agreement, payment of wages for May and June, and fulfillment of obligations toward workers who have met the criteria for retirement during 2024.

They believe that the current attitude of the authorities toward the mines in the Federation is irresponsible, inhumane, and degrading to people who have contributed to the country’s energy system for decades.

The Zenica Brown Coal Mine is in the process of being shut down, but there are still no concrete steps toward solving this issue.