After workers at the Pula-based Uljanik shipyard received their wages for July, Uljanik striking committee unanimously decided to end the strike, which began on August 22, on Friday at 15.00, the committee said on Friday.
The government said on Thursday it had provided state guarantees to the state-owned Croatian Postal Bank (HPB) for changing insurance instruments for earlier HPB’s loans to Uljanik from 2015 and 2016, which will make it possible to now pay wages in the group.
Committee chair Djino Sverko told reporters that, considering the complex issues of the shipyard’s future and survival of all the companies in the Uljanik Group, the committee had decided it would not be disbanded, but would instead continue with activities, adding that this would not affect the decision to end the strike.
The committee sent a letter to Economy Minister Darko Horvat, thanking him for the support and effort he put into solving the issue of late July wages for the Uljanik workers.
“The payment of wages created only the minimum conditions for continuing the activities in the Uljanik Group. In the coming period, union representatives will be dealing with many questions concerning the survival and restructuring of the shipbuilding industry in Pula and Rijeka, to which we still have not received clear answers,” the letter said.
The committee added they wanted to meet with Horvat next week in order to “find answers and remove doubts regarding the restructuring and diversification plan, as well as the role of a strategic partner in future activities.”
Employees and small shareholders hold a 47 percent ownership share in the Uljanik dock, while the Croatia Osiguranje insurer has 9.93 percent, and 7.7 percent is held by the Croatian Pension Insurance Fund (HZMO), etc.
European Commission (EC) received a restructuring proposal from the government in July, and assessment is currently underway.
“The restructuring plan must reinstate long-term sustainability without continuing public support, in order to preserve jobs in Istria based on sustainable foundations,” EC said on Wednesday.
In January 2018, Uljanik was approved state guarantees for a €96 million loan, which represents state support conditioned by company’s restructuring in order to ensure sustainability and efficient use of taxpayer money, the EC added.
Workers of the Rijeka-based 3. Maj, the other shipyard in the Uljanik Group, put their strike on hold after receiving their July wages today, postponing a protest announced for Monday.
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