Bosnia Power Workers Threaten Strike Over Pay

The trade union of Elektroprivreda BiH, one of the two power companies in Bosnia's Federation entity, has warned of imminent strike action if the government goes ahead with a plan to cut their salaries.

Union president Omer Sikira told BIRN that a strike committee was already formed to prepare for a strike which, according to him, will happen the moment the entity government confirms its decision to cut salaries.   

"When this happens, we will be ready for a strike. We cannot accept any kind of cuts in salaries. We don't want misery," he told BIRN on Tuesday.  

Sikira said that his union had some 4,700 members. The first phase the strike would include several hundred people and would not disrupt power production and the supply to the public.

The warning came after the Federation government - over less than 24 hours - reversed its announced plans to increase the price of electricity and instead pledged to cut salaries in Elektroprivreda BiH.

Elektroprivreda BiH includes a consortium of seven mines which produce coal for its thermo power plants.

The management and workers of those mines have been increasingly restive about working conditions, salaries and other benefits of miners compared to the rest of the power company's employees.

Miners in the Federation entity, frustrated over working conditions and incomes, had scheduled a massive strike for Monday.

The threat was averted at the last moment on Sunday with an agreement between the entity's government and miners' unions under which electricity prices in the Federation would increase by 10 per cent to fund the modernization of the mines.  

The announcement triggered immediate criticism that soon forced the Federation government to...