Montenegro Unions to Stage Separate Mayday Rallies

Union leaders in Montenegro are calling on people to show their discontent with government policies at Mayday protests in the capital, Podgorica, on Thursday.

The gathering will be the first of its kind after a five-year break.

However, the country's divided trade unions will rally separately in the streets of Podgorica.

The pro-government Alliance of Trade Unions said it expected over 8,000 mainly young people to show up on Podgorica'a main square on May 1.

Marko Nikcevic, the head of the alliance, said the protest was an opportunity to draw attention to the difficulties facing young people and to "how tough the fight for each new job is.

"We assume that many people will respond to our invitation because they will not be going away on tourist expeditions or on field trips because they can't afford it," Nikcevic said on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Independent Trade Union will organize a separate rally on Thursday in front of the headquarters of the Montenegrin government.