Power Company Union Endorses Student Protests

Student protest (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

Dragoslav Ljubicic, head of the Independence Union of the Electric Power Industry of Serbia, the Obrenovac-based Nikola Tesla Thermal Power Plant branch, said on Jan. 15 that the union supported the protests of students and all citizens who are for equality and justice.

He told BETA that the first step had been made in the procedure of announcing a protest and that the basic idea was for the workers, who support the students and other protesting citizens, to be able to assemble without fear of punitive action and express their discontent with the situation in the country and in the company, and thus take part in the democratization of society and the creation of a state of law.

"We demand accountability for corruption and deaths, and that those responsible be held accountable for workplace abuse in accordance with the law," Ljubicic said, adding that he had not been subjected to any pressure so far because he did his "job as dispatcher responsibly and to the best of [his] ability."

He said the union was planning demonstration rallies in front of power company administration buildings and that five days had to expire from the announcement of the protest to it taking place. "We will organize protests in agreement with other strikers," Ljubicic said.