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14 July, 2005
An eight-day strike by the Electric Power Workers Trade Union of Serbia ended 5 August with guaranteed assurances that union rights and full employment levels will be maintained at state-run EPS as it prepares for restructuring into five separate enterprises. The strike by 1,250 workers at EPS’s Kostolac Mine and a thermal power plant in Kostolac won guaranteed employment at the five new companies for a four-year period, as well as an excellent redundancy package for any workers laid off thereafter. According to Power Workers Trade Union President Milan Kovacevic, another crucial aspect of the agreement is a provision that EPS must reassess in three years whether the separation to five business entities is justified before finalization of the process occurs. The restructuring of EPS will not begin until the five labour agreements of the new businesses are completed with the union.
Correction: In ICEM’s 17 August InBrief, at Serbia’s state-run electric company called EPS, the number of separate companies that the firm has broken into is 23, not five as written. The eight-day strike by 1,250 workers occurred at one of those companies now splitting into five units. ICEM affiliate Electric Power Workers Trade Union won job security assurances through the strike that occurred at part of two companies, firms connected with the Kostolac Mine and thermal power plant.
Correction: In ICEM’s 17 August InBrief, at Serbia’s state-run electric company called EPS, the number of separate companies that the firm has broken into is 23, not five as written. The eight-day strike by 1,250 workers occurred at one of those companies now splitting into five units. ICEM affiliate Electric Power Workers Trade Union won job security assurances through the strike that occurred at part of two companies, firms connected with the Kostolac Mine and thermal power plant.