USSCG: EPSU asks Brussels and the Government of Montenegro to urgently resolve the issue of the General Collective Agreement

The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) is asking Brussels and the Government of Montenegro to urgently resolve the issue of the General Collective Agreement (GCA), the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (USSCG) announced today.

The statement states that EPSU has sent official letters to the President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen, the High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, as well as the Prime Minister of Montenegro Milojko Spajić, expressing strong concern about the breakdown of social dialogue in Montenegro.

"The letters, signed by EPSU General Secretary Jan Willem Gudrian, emphasize strong support for Montenegrin representative unions, led by the Union of Free Trade Unions of Montenegro (USSCG), in their justified fight to preserve workers' rights after the General Collective Agreement expired on April 30 this year. With the Government's refusal to accept the previously agreed proposal of the social partners, more than 100.000 workers in Montenegro were left without basic labor guarantees and protection," the USSCG statement reads.

The trade union organization stated that EPSU "appealed to European Commission officials to urgently raise the issue of the threat to social dialogue and collective bargaining with the Montenegrin authorities during the upcoming EU-Western Balkans Summit in Tivat."

"It was emphasized that respect for workers' rights is not just a formal condition for closing Chapter 19 (Social Policy and Employment), but a fundamental European value that must be applied in practice. The European Federation of Public Service Trade Unions also made an open call to the Government of Montenegro to resume negotiations in good faith without delay and proceed with the conclusion of a new General Collective Agreement," said the USSCG.