Post: It is particularly concerning that the USSCG, led by Keković, supports illegal actions

It is particularly worrying that the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (USSCG), led by Srđa Keković, through its public appearances directly supports illegal actions related to the illegal disposal of funds, forgery of documents and abuse of trust of users of our services who belong to vulnerable categories of the population, the Post of Montenegro announced today.

The state-owned company reacted to the fact that representatives of the Unified Trade Union of the Post of Montenegro held a warning protest today in front of the main Post Office on Slobode Street in Podgorica and again demanded that the company's management annul the dismissal of the union activist and president of the 2023 strike committee, Jugoslav Marković, and reinstate him.

The Secretary General of the USSCG, of which the United Post Union is a member, Srđa Keković, said at the protest that Marković was a victim of revenge because of the strike he initiated and the topics he raised about numerous frauds at the Post Office, and that he did nothing that many postmen do not do when users cannot sign.

"Regarding the allegations made by representatives of the Unified Trade Union of Employees at the Post of Montenegro, the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro and a member of the Board of Directors of the Post of Montenegro, which were published in the media, we are obliged to react and, for the sake of the general public, point out their inaccuracy, unfoundedness and unsustainability for the following reasons: The Post of Montenegro, as a company founded by the state, operates in accordance with regulations and principles of corporate responsibility, which is why it resolutely rejects all unfounded accusations and attempts to introduce anarchy into business by irresponsible individuals," the Post said in a statement.

The company added that it will not allow anarchy in which decisions are made under pressure and in accordance with individual interests.

"It is particularly worrying that the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro, led by Mr. Keković, through its public appearances directly supports illegal actions related to the illegal disposal of funds, forgery of documents and abuse of trust of users of our services who belong to vulnerable categories of the population. Whereby irresponsible individuals give themselves the right to make accusations without any evidence, remaining at the level of general and blanket allegations," said the Post.

They said that "allegations about negative opinions, the way money is spent and other allegations that question the way management works are a told story and the verification of all these allegations was carried out by the competent institutions based on numerous reports, so let's leave the institutions to do their job."

"We would like to emphasize to the public that the final word in the event of termination of employment for Jugoslav Marković will be given by the competent court and not by any pressure, since we have learned today that court proceedings have been initiated. In the court proceedings, he will have the opportunity to present all the arguments on which he bases his allegations, and the Post of Montenegro will, as before, respect court decisions," the Post said.

They emphasize that there is no pressure on workers at the Post of Montenegro.

"On the contrary, this state-owned company is recording significant business successes and achieving record revenues, which has enabled an increase in salaries for all employees. Therefore, this is not the result of respected union demands for an increase in salaries, but of overall financial success and responsible business operations, to which the majority of employees contributed with their dedicated work. Without successful management of the company, concluding new and quality deals, and creating new business partnerships, it would not be possible to achieve higher revenues, which means higher salaries and other benefits from employment, which all employees can testify to," the statement reads.

When it comes to, as the Post Office said, "who knows what malicious statement by board member Stojan Sjekloća, the motive is clear to us and it is contained in the termination of his employment contract, which he deserved due to his work misconduct, inappropriate behavior and mobbing of female colleagues."

"The competent court confirmed that the termination of the employment contract was carried out legally. Therefore, it is not surprising that yet another in a series of angry reactions aimed at damaging the reputation of the management, where it does not even take into account whether its irresponsible actions may harm the business reputation of the Post of Montenegro. Finally, we emphasize that the Post of Montenegro will continue to operate in accordance with the law and in the best interests of its employees and citizens, and all those who try to damage the reputation of the company through political and manipulative methods should know that the only correct path is the one that means institutionally resolving all open issues," the Post said.

Member of the Board of Directors of the Post of Montenegro, Stojan Sjekloća, supported today's protest by the United Trade Union and the demand that the president of the strike committee from 2023, Jugoslav Marković, return to work.

Sjekloća said that he responsibly claims that the situation at the Post Office is much worse today than in 2016, and that Marković's dismissal is just the tip of the iceberg.

"Vijesti" announced on February 21 that the Montenegrin Post Administration had fired Jugoslav Marković, a union activist and president of the strike committee who fought for a salary increase in 2023, because as a postman in Budva, he allegedly failed to pay a pension to a beneficiary and forged the signature on the money order.

Marković said that he paid the pension to the pensioner from Budva, that he signed the money order at her request, and that after she reported him, he paid her the pension amount again from his own money.