14.12.2016.
Defence Minister with representatives of Trade Union ‘Independence’
Defence Minister Zoran Djordjevic met today with representatives of the Trade Union Administration, Justice, Defence and Police ‘Independence’ on the possibilities to improve the financial status of professional members of the Serbian Armed Forces.
Minister Djordjevic pointed out once again that he had always been open to dialogue aimed at improving the financial status of employees in the defence system, and that the Ministry of Defence would accept any real claim to overcome the existing problems.President of the Trade Union ‘Independence’ Dragan Čabrić stressed that there is a serious political influence on the work of trade unions in the Serbian Armed Forces, which is used for the sake of gaining over the members.
- We are running a constructive peaceful trade union policy and we are always for dialogue. The protests and pressures on the street cannot solve the problems but we need to return to the negotiating table and promote social dialogue, Čabrić added.
Minister Djordjevic introduced the representatives of the trade union to the activities to be undertaken in order to improve the material status of the Serbian Armed Forces.
- We have signed contracts with a number of companies where our members can purchase food, household appliances, fuel and the like. with special benefits and the interest-free instalments. At the moment, we cannot increase the salaries by more than five percent, but we can still do that in all other possible ways to improve the life and work of the Serbian Armed Forces. This is a priority above all priorities, Djordjevic said.
President of the Trade Union ‘Independence’ and the members of this union who are members of the Serbian Armed Forces, presented their remarks and proposals relating to conditions of life and work of the defence system, especially highlighting the situation of professional soldiers. They welcomed the idea of forming a military self-revenue establishment for physical and technical security where the professional soldiers would continue their engagement at the expiration of their employment contract in the Serbian Armed Forces.
One of the topics of the talks was the possibility of extending the contracts for non-commissioned officers who were admitted to military service on short-term contract. Minister Djordjevic said he would consider all options for the continuation of their professional engagement in the Serbian Armed Forces.
