Technical workers’ strike in Pristina continues as they demand payment of overdue wages

Technical workers at primary and secondary schools in Pristina have gone on strike over delayed wages, a situation they say has been recurring for three years. They say they will not return to work until they receive their payments.

Ilmi Buzuku, the head technical worker at “Gjergj Fishta” School, said the strike was the last resort left to them to force their employer to respond and fulfill its obligations.

“It has been two months since we received our wages. The company blames the Municipality, while the Municipality is not releasing the money. We are on strike and do not intend to work until our wages are paid. We have to clean the toilets regardless of whether we are on strike or not. We can do that, but not the other work in the classrooms,” Buzuku said.

According to him, the workers have lost patience after a long period of waiting, while he stressed that continuing to work without pay is impossible.

“We will continue until our demands are met, because nobody works without a wage. We have loans, and the loan payments are doubled there,” he added.

The director of “Gjergj Fishta” School, Suphije Zhitia, said responsibility for maintaining hygiene lies with the economic operator. She added that the workers have the right to express their dissatisfaction with the situation.

“Fortunately, this time there is a provision that, even though they are on strike, they must fulfill their obligation to keep the sanitary facilities clean. This was a provision I welcomed, because institutions are visited daily—at least ours—by around 1,000 people,” Zhitia stressed.

Because of the large number of people who attend the school every day, the striking workers continue to clean the toilets, while they do not carry out other work in the classrooms.

The school staff is waiting for the parties to find a solution to the dispute. The director said the workers would be given time to express their dissatisfaction, while the responsible institutions must determine where the problem lies.

“We will give them the time they need. Let these parties simply express their dissatisfaction, if it persists. Let the other parties see where the problem lies, and certainly both sides are aware that time is the most important factor,” the school director said.

Despite waiting for a solution, the technical workers say the strike will continue until their unpaid wages are paid.