Railway dispute reaches prosecutor's office

This week, Railway Transport (ŽPCG) officially addressed the Basic State Prosecutor's Office (ODT) in Podgorica with a request to verify the allegations made against them by the Unified Union of ŽPCG Workers, i.e. whether they committed any criminal acts during their business operations.

This company has also filed criminal charges against the president of that union. Milan Usancevic and president of the Trade Union of Transport Engine Drivers Dejan Žarić because they believe that they have publicly stated untruths. This is stated, among other things, in the documentation that ŽPCG submitted to “Vijesti”.

Usancevic and Zaric are signatories to the letter from the United Trade Union that was delivered to the Prime Minister last week. Milojko Spajić, to the President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić, Minister of Transport Maja Vukićević, as well as the Director of the Directorate for Railway Transport Slavica Knežević. In the letter, they claim that the company is in a difficult situation, that the trains are in poor condition and that the workers are dissatisfied - ever since she was appointed to the head of the company in October last year. Dragana Luksic, Therefore, they are requesting that the company's operations be investigated and, depending on the findings, the removal of the CEO and Board of Directors be considered.

"Our company received a document prepared by the Unified Trade Union, which contains potentially numerous disputable information regarding the work of the company and its executive director, which are also incriminating. We, as a company, have decided to inform the relevant criminal prosecution office about the submitted document in order to investigate the existence of grounds for suspicion of the commission of an offense for which prosecution is being undertaken ex officio. Since our common goal is to establish the truth in this and any other situation, we are at your disposal for the proper determination of the factual situation and the submission of all relevant evidence according to the prosecutor's assessment," states the letter that ŽPCG submitted to the ODT.

Unfounded and malicious claims

Lukšić told "Vijesti" that ŽPCG does not attach importance to unfounded letters and statements that are not within the union's jurisdiction nor are they a fight for workers' rights, but they want to prevent the further spread of misinformation that directly damages the company's reputation and the credibility of management.

She pointed out that the attacks on her are an attempt to discredit her professional work in order to return management to the hands of interest groups that previously abused their positions, and that she has more than 30 years of experience in the railway sector and an impeccable professional biography. She added that they have already written to the ODT to verify all allegations, but also that they have initiated legal procedures against those who publicly stated untruths - in order to give them the opportunity to prove them before the competent authorities.

"The reason for the address is the public statements of Žarić and Usancevic, as well as the letters they sent to institutions, which were published without checking the facts and without consulting the legitimate trade union representation. The claims they made are completely unfounded, malicious and motivated exclusively by personal interests. We would not comment on the content of the letter because we believe it is unfounded, unargued, without facts and evidence, that it is of a completely different nature and goal and, unfortunately, this is not the first time it has happened - and by the same profiles of employees. This organized campaign does not represent the interests of either the workers or the company, but rather an attempt by compromised individuals to protect previous privileges and dubious business arrangements," Lukšić emphasized.

She stressed that all tenders, including those referred to by the United Trade Union, were carried out in accordance with the Law on Public Procurement and Internal Procedures, and that everyone has the right to appeal, and not through media pressure and union manipulation. Lukšić added that upon taking office, she found a completely defective vehicle fleet and daily alternative bus transportation, while today buses are not used because there is no shortage of trains.

The union claimed in the letter that Lukšić also jeopardized the operations of the Railway Rolling Stock Maintenance (OŽVS) while she was at the helm of the company, but she pointed out that she had then resolved the company's long-standing financial and operational problems by increasing revenue by more than a million euros per year, as well as increasing the hourly rate.

Lukšić stressed that the management of ŽPCG remains committed to legal, transparent and responsible business operations and that it will not allow the accusations to overshadow professionalism, achieved results and stability. She added that this was also confirmed by the ŽPCG Trade Union Confederation, which has around 200 workers at the company, from which, she says, they stated that they distance themselves from the positions of Žarić and Usancevic and highlighted better organization in the company, greater train serviceability and regular payment of salaries according to the collective agreement.

Another union gave support

The ŽPCG Trade Union Confederation also sent a letter to the Minister of Transport Maja Vukićević this week, stating that the situation in the company is better, that the safety of trains is a priority, and that they disagree with the assessments of the United Trade Union.

This is stated in a letter signed by the president of this union, Svetozar Stanović, and sent to "Vijesti" by ŽPCG in an email.

Stanović claims that in the last ten months, management has been strengthened with experts, that the organization in the company is better, transparency is available to everyone, the allocation of variables is more correct and modest, and that discrimination against employees has been abolished...

"I take this opportunity to express my disagreement with the written and media address of my colleagues to the highest state institutions, as a representative of the largest representative trade union, the Confederation of Trade Unions of ŽPCG, which includes over 50 percent of employees of all profiles of workers in society. We would not comment on the content of the letter because we believe it is unfounded, unargued, without facts and evidence, that it is of a completely different nature and goal, and it is not the first time this has happened, and it is from the same profiles of employees," Stanović emphasized in a letter that was also delivered to the management of ŽPCG.