Steel is not forged in the Ironworks, but it is made, said the workers of one of the former largest industrial giants of the former Yugoslavia and Montenegro.
However, there are few who want to make a statement, and those who are not nervous after the decision of Elektroprivreda Crne Gore (EPCG), which manages EPCG-Željezara, not to grant them money to start production in the former plants - Čeličani and Kovačnica. The reason for such a decision is the strict rules regarding the granting of state aid. The Agency for the Protection of Competition (AZK) issued a decision according to which 6,5 million cannot be given to start production at the Steel Plant, until it is determined whether the purchase of Željezara for 20 million was in accordance with the Law on the Allocation of State Aid...
The workers of "Vijesti" journalists said that they must respect such a decision because, as they pointed out, the "mother" must be obeyed, even when she makes a mistake. She would love the "children" if they could make the decision, but "as long as the wallet is with 'mother', she wonders".
"I think that two days ago was one of the most difficult days in the history of Željezara and certainly the most difficult for the workers, because that decision is not correct for us, but Elektroprivreda is the owner of this property and they can dispose of it as they wish, and we as workers we will not interfere. We came here to work and to support our families from this income", the president of the union told "Vijesta". Ivan Vujović.
As decided by the EPCG Board of Directors, to start production, they will seek a partner through a public invitation - from abroad, or a state company.
"We are still of the opinion that Željezara could have started production on its own, because any future strategic partner who comes will not be able to start production without the employees of Željezara. We don't want them to bring us strategic partners like they were in the previous 20 years, and we know what they did - they hurt the Iron and Steel Industry, and the workers, and for God's sake, this country. I sincerely hope that a respectable partner will finally come and that we will finally be able to do what we have been doing all this time", said Vujović.
The workers are aware that additional time will be lost in the process of searching for partners, and according to the business plan of the Ironworks, the start of production was planned for September of this year.
"I don't think that's right at all and that Čeličana should start working as soon as possible. It hasn't been working for two winters, if it doesn't work for the third one, the question is what will happen to the drive and how much additional costs it will cause," the worker believes. Milos Nikolic.
Aleksandar Tomic, who works in a constructive workshop, says that he hopes that production will start.
"We are waiting to see what will happen. It's their last and we can't interfere with that. We have to listen to Elektroprivreda, our 'mother', and 'mother' must be obeyed, even though the 'children' would like it to be theirs. Although it was said in May that we could not start the Steel Mill for five years, the story of starting it started and we believed that it would happen. Now we're over the top," Tomic said.
Funny, but also painful stories about idleness
When Željezara is mentioned, the public's perception is that the workers do nothing and receive salaries, as well as that the former giant only produces losses. The employees claim that such statements do not correspond to the factual situation and invite all those who think that the Ironworks is "just lying down", to come and see for themselves that this is not the case.
"It's a shame that the public thinks that nothing is being done here. Such a bad image has been sent to the public about Željezara that there is no work here, that it is just lying around, and that is absolutely not true. Whoever thinks that, can come and see what is being done here, because this factory is not the same on February 23rd, as it is today. It's a completely different factory. From the initial capital, we have prepared both Kovačnica and Čeličana for work, so that their future partner can come to an end," said Vujović.
For Nikolić, stories about "idleness" are funny, but also painful.
"That can only be said by someone who has not entered the Ironworks. I would like them to come here for just one day, starting with my Traffic plant, to see if we are lying down or working. Let them be with us for just one day and let's see if they can follow this pace", said Nikolić.
Tomić points out that it is not their fault that they have to do the same job six or seven times, as he claims is happening now.
"So far, we have had six or seven projects for panels for Elektroprivreda. They bring us a project for panel structures, we do it, then they say it's not good, so they bring another project. And so six times. This is the seventh project and who knows if this one will also be successful. It has nothing to do with the brain. And all those who say that we are not working should come to us, so that they can see how and how much is being done", said Tomić.
289 workers are employed in Željezara on the basis of labor contracts, while about a hundred more are hired on the basis of work contracts, on various grounds.
Most of the workers are engaged in the production of supporting structures and substructures, as well as in the rehabilitation of roofs for the needs of future rooftop solar power plants. The works on the arrangement of the factory area, as well as on the overhaul of the Steel Plant, the Forge, the Energana, and the Transport, are nearing completion, and the realization of a new program - the production of PVC joinery - has begun.
Since eight months ago, Elektroprivreda took over the property of the former Željezara from the Turkish Tosjali Group - Tosčelik for 20 million euros, production has been started in the construction and PVC locksmith facilities, the first solar power plant on the roof was built and is awaiting commissioning, a restaurant has opened, several the hall has been leased...
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