The Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (USSCG) has launched two campaigns under the slogans “For a Peaceful Sleep, Social Housing” and “Not Everything is for Sale”, which stem from resolutions adopted at the USSCG’s Fourth Congress, namely the Resolution on the Necessity of Housing Policy Reform and the Resolution on Protecting Nationally Significant Economic Entities.
According to the USSCG’s statement, the “For a Peaceful Sleep, Social Housing” campaign calls on the state to adopt a responsible housing policy and treat the right to housing as a fundamental human right.
- In this context, USSCG advocates for the state to build government-owned housing and rent it to citizens who cannot afford to purchase homes under market conditions. On the other hand, the “Not Everything is for Sale” campaign calls for the government to refrain from privatizing businesses and to maintain majority ownership in national interest entities such as Airports of Montenegro, the Montenegrin Power Transmission System, Elektroprivreda Crne Gore, the Pljevlja Coal Mine, and the Montenegrin Railway Infrastructure, among others, the statement reads.
To implement the campaigns, USSCG has submitted initiatives to the President of the Montenegrin Parliament and the Prime Minister of Montenegro, requesting meetings to exchange views on these issues.
- Since no response has been received, USSCG has decided to initiate a petition, as per Article 93, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution of Montenegro, to collect signatures from Montenegrin citizens for a proposal to the Parliament to call for a national referendum. In order to compel the Parliament to hold a national referendum on these issues, at least 10% of eligible voters in Montenegro must sign, the statement explains.
As part of the campaign, USSCG is organizing public discussions and signature collection in most cities across Montenegro. The upcoming events will take place in Žabljak and Pljevlja on February 18, 2025.
- The Žabljak public discussion will be held at the Žabljak Municipal Assembly hall at 10 AM, with a signature collection stand set up from 9 AM to 12 PM in front of the Municipal Assembly building. The public discussion in Pljevlja will be held at the Pljevlja Cultural Center, with a signature collection stand from 1 PM to 5 PM in front of the Cultural Center, the USSCG statement concludes.
