Primary school support staff in Prishtina without June salary, threatened with boycott and protest

If they do not receive their June salaries by Tuesday of next week, the technical workers of primary schools in Prishtina have decided to completely suspend work.

This stance was taken during a meeting held today among the heads of the trade union associations of this sector.

Jusuf Azemi, leader of the Private Sector Workers’ Union, warned that if payments are not made by that day, there will also be protest gatherings.

He explained that the meeting was called after previous promises from the deputy mayor of the municipality and some of his associates, who had assured that the salaries would be delayed at most until July 15. According to Azemi, there is now information that the payment has not been made due to internal problems in the municipality and there are no signs it will be done soon.

“We have waited enough. If by Tuesday the money is not in the accounts, from Wednesday we will not report to the schools and will cut off all services. Also, we will go in front of the municipality building to demand our rights,” Azemi stressed.

He added that the situation has become unbearable, since for more than a year salaries have never been received on time. Azemi mentioned the rhetorical question of a female worker, who had pointed out how the mayor would feel if he were missing two salaries. “We receive 390 euros per month and we have received nothing since May. How can we survive in Kosovo? Our decisions are in accordance with the law on trade union organization and we will not work without being paid,” he declared.

Milaim Sopi, representative of the school technical workers, said that the lack of salaries is severely worsening the livelihoods of these employees who take care of the maintenance of school buildings. He recalled the promise received during a meeting with the deputy mayor and some directors, where it was said that the salary would be given on July 15. “Today is the 22nd and the payment has still not arrived. This has heavily harmed us. Many of us are in debt and have unpaid loans, while the banks are constantly contacting us about the late payments,” Sopi recounted.