Left penniless due to court ruling: Former workers of Ulcinj's Solana will not receive part of their claims this year

The bankruptcy administration of the Ulcinj Saltworks will not, as in the past, make former employees happy on the eve of the New Year holidays by paying part of the claims of 300 to 400 euros per worker.

This was confirmed to the workers' representative Saša Mitrović by the bankruptcy trustee. Milos Popovic.

Former workers of the Solana last received part of their claims in March of this year and nothing since then.

"The company's account recently contained around 40 euros, which the bankruptcy trustee had earmarked for payment to workers as part of the claims. However, by decision of the bailiffs, that amount was withdrawn from the account in favor of the heirs of the former, now deceased, CEO Solana." Jelena Aleksic"All based on a court decision that the saltworks is sued for, and is obliged to pay the heirs a total of 120 thousand euros," said Mitrović.

He pointed out that the workers were taken aback by the court's decision, which they only just learned about.

"During the time of the former management, when Aleksić was at the head of the company, in 2010, about 30 thousand tons of salt disappeared from the hangar. She was subsequently dismissed, but she sued the Saltworks. Let me note that the verdict was probably made on the basis of falsified decisions of the Board of Directors. We, the workers of the Saltworks' General Sector, are witnesses that this is a forgery. We have asked the bankruptcy administrator to provide us with both the verdict and his appeal. We also do not expect reactions from the prosecutor's office and the court, because as before with the Ulcinj Saltworks, they were and remain an embarrassment to this country," said Mitrović.

Former workers of the Ulcinj Saltworks will continue blocking the road to Bar after the holidays in protest over unpaid wages and contributions. This was decided at a meeting on Saturday.

Former workers of the Ulcinj Saltworks will continue their blockade of the road to Bar after the holidays in protest of unpaid wages and contributions. This was decided at a meeting on Saturday in front of the entrance gate to the oldest Ulcinj company.

The bankruptcy administration owes workers around 900 thousand euros in unpaid wages and contributions for around five and a half years of service.

The earlier decision to block city roads in protest of unpaid wages and contributions was made unanimously by the workers on May 4th, at a meeting marking the 20th anniversary of the introduction of reorganized bankruptcy in the oldest company in Ulcinj.

They blocked the Ulcinj - Bar road every Saturday from May 10th to July 5th, when they temporarily abandoned the blockades due to the season, believing that they would achieve their rights through an institutional struggle.

Worker representative Saša Mitović said that the next meeting will decide whether the blockades will last an hour, two or longer.

"That's not that important. It's important that our voice is heard and that the state knows that we will not give up on exercising our rights," Mitrović told "Vijesti".

He reminded that Solana is still in bankruptcy due to a total debt of around 4,5 million euros, including workers' claims.

"All of this can be resolved in a normal and civilized manner if there is a will. That is not a figure that would give the country a headache, especially considering that we cannot close Chapter 27 for EU accession until we completely resolve the Solana issue," Mitrović emphasized.

He also pointed out that a new company that will manage the saltworks cannot be formed until the issue of the old company is resolved.

"This will not be possible because the Government and the Municipality of Ulcinj, as co-owners of the new company being formed, must first shut down or liquidate the old company. They can only do this if the company settles all debts and emerges from bankruptcy. Of course, the problem with the shareholders who are the majority owners of the company in bankruptcy must also be resolved," said Mitrović.

He and his associates had a meeting with the Commission for Control and Monitoring of Privatizations on Saturday, at which it was agreed that the talks would continue.

"Our proposal was that the next meeting of the Commission and workers be held in Ulcinj. We will see more, but we will support everything that leads to solving our problems that have lasted for more than 15 years," said Mitrović.

Solana has been in programmed bankruptcy since 2005, and in classic bankruptcy since 2011.

The last salt harvest was in 2013.