The deadline for submitting bids for the concession of Montenegrin airports is next week, and mid-next week, representatives from the government, as well as the municipalities of Tivat and Zeta, will sign an agreement on the use of the concession funds.
The union of the airport workers believes that the entire process is not transparent, as reported by RTCG portal.
Damjan Radulović, the president of the union, told Radio Montenegro that despite promises, the existing collective agreement is being questioned, as he claims it is illegal.
He believes that now is the right time for lawmakers to support the initiative of the Union of Free Trade Unions and pass the Law on the Protection of State-Owned Enterprises, which would ensure that a referendum is held in case of changes in the ownership structure of the company.
The deadline for submitting bids to the tender commission for the concession of airports in Golubovci and Tivat is May 9. In the meantime, as announced two days earlier, representatives of the government and the municipalities of Zeta and Tivat will sign an agreement on how the concession funds will be used. According to the Concessions Law, the funds are to be redirected to municipal budgets and used exclusively for capital projects.
Radulović stated that there are no employee representatives in the tender commission, even though the decision being made concerns a key national resource.
“By coincidence, intentionally or not, we have no representatives of employees. We consider it highly irresponsible to decide on the workers’ future without involving them. The question is how can a legitimate decision about a concession be made without involving those who have maintained airport operations for decades and ensured profits year after year. Last year alone, over ten million in profits were achieved,” Radulović said.
The chairman of the tender commission, Nik Gjeloshaj, recently stated in parliament that a decision will be made by June 9 on whether the state will continue investing in airports or move towards a concession model. He assured that the best solution would be chosen, and workers would be fully protected.
The union is skeptical about the protection of workers, as Radulović claims the current collective agreement is illegal.
“It was signed by union representatives whose terms have expired, and who did not conduct elections according to their own rules. There is a real risk that future concessionaires will challenge this agreement. Now, if Mr. Gjeloshaj thinks that the clause in this controversial collective agreement, which states that employees cannot be fired for five years after the takeover, is sufficient protection, I ask – what happens after those five years? If the concessionaire, for example, reduces the number of employees to increase profit,” Radulović stated.
He questioned whether there is a plan or social program for those employees.
“Are we going to see another exodus of skilled, highly educated workers from Montenegro?” Radulović asked.
He believes that now is the right time for parliamentary clubs to support the initiative of the Union of Free Trade Unions to adopt a law on the protection of state-owned enterprises, which would mean that a referendum should be held in the case of a concession or sale of such enterprises.
“If they are willing to decide on these matters through a referendum, the government would show an incredible leap forward and a level of responsibility never seen before, which would earn trust in the upcoming elections,” Radulović concluded.
