On behalf of its affiliates the Railroad Engineers Trade Union of Croatia and the Railway Workers’ Trade Union of Croatia, the ITF has urged the Croatian government to engage in proper social dialogue with unions over railway restructuring, job cuts and late wages.
In their letter to the Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure minister, Sinisa Hajdas Doncic, on May 28, the ITF’s acting general secretary Stephen Cotton and inland transport secretary Mac Urata wrote that, despite Croatia having ratified a number of ILO conventions and the European Social Charter, the minister had received trade union representatives just once during his 18 months in office, and only then after the union had announced a strike, and had failed to respond to union correspondence.
They said: “The Social Council in the railway sector was established a year ago with the support of the Ministry of Labour and Pension System. But since the former railway companies were dissolved, employers have refused to nominate new members, even though the Council cannot function without representatives of employers. The Croatian railway workers are making efforts to establish a social dialogue in the Croatian railway sector, including by making reports to the competent authorities in the European Commission, because Croatia is failing to comply properly with its obligations under EU law.”
The letter concluded: “The ITF and its affiliates worldwide are following this situation and we urge your office to resolve this problem as soon as possible and, in particular, to involve and consult with the trade unions to find ways to improve the present situation and establish a social dialogue at the railway company. This is of particular importance given the direct impact on the working conditions and lives of workers on the railway likely to result from any restructuring.”
