Employees at the Rijeka-based 3. Maj and the Pula-based Uljanik shipyards, both parts of the Uljanik Group, on Wednesday went on strike after their salaries for July - due to be paid by August 15 - had not been paid by Tuesday, August 21. They said they would continue the industrial action at their work stations until they get their salaries.

Employees of all the seven subsidiary companies in Pula and of the dock in Rijeka are on strike, with only security staff, firefighters, and emergency services on duty exempted from the strike.

A unionist said on Wednesday morning that all but necessary services had started the strike at 7 a.m.

More than 4,000 workers at Uljanik were supposed to receive their July wages on August 15 or the next day, considering that the date is a public holiday. However, they did not receive their pay on August 17 either, and launched conciliation proceedings with the company management, which, according to the law, last for five days. The five-day period expired on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the 3. Maj shipyard’s bank account was unblocked on Tuesday after it had been frozen this past Friday, the shipyard, which is part of the Uljanik Group, reported on Tuesday.

“The 3. Maj shipyard company wishes to inform the investment public that the company’s commercial accounts are no longer blocked,” a brief statement from the shipyard said.

Replying to a query from the Zagreb Stock Exchange on Friday, the shipyard’s management said the company’s account had been blocked and added that the restructuring programme of the Uljanik docks would create preconditions to intensify the overall production activities of the Uljanik Group, which includes the 3. Maj shipyard.

“It is a fact that business in the 3. Maj shipyard has been affected by the overall situation and partly due to the problems at the Uljanik Group,” the company said.