The management of the Radio and Television of Montenegro could borrow almost a million euros from some of the commercial banks, in order to pay the employees several years of incorrect calculation of wages, but this would potentially jeopardize the liquidity of the Public Service.
This was confirmed to the "News" by several interlocutors from the RTCG Council, who yesterday had a meeting with the general director Božidar Šundić and representatives of professional services regarding this issue.
Some interlocutors of "Vijesti" claim that the complete payment of these claims for almost 1.600 current and former employees who are entitled to them, along with the obligations that the media company currently has, would empty the coffers of RTCG, which would put the future Council and management in an unenviable position.
The estimated amount of compensation on this basis alone is EUR 940.000 net.
The Administrative Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro finished discussions with candidates for new members of the Council yesterday, and nomination proposals are expected soon.
The union will resent the Council if it allows the withdrawal of loans
After the final court verdict, according to which this claim was won by the Trade Union of RTCG employees Jadranka Drobjak, so far over 300 of her colleagues have requested the same before the Agency for Peaceful Dispute Resolution.
The starting part of the salary was incorrectly calculated for almost eight years, from 2011 to the summer of 2019, when the new Collective Agreement was signed.
Yesterday, Šundić did not respond to the calls and text messages of "Vijesti", so the public was deprived of answers that are potential solutions to this situation.
Council members, as several of them unofficially confirmed to us yesterday, asked for additional information regarding this case, but they also claim that Drobnjak, although she was invited, did not come to the meeting, so it remains unclear what the employees are demanding.
The letter, in which the Council invites to a meeting and dialogue, states that the topic is "models of solutions to the problems faced by the RTCG", and is addressed to the General Director and Head of the Legal and General Affairs Department. It was delivered to the archives, as well as to the presidents of two trade unions.
Drobnjak told "Vijesta" yesterday that she did not understand from such a letter that she was invited to a meeting, but that she will respond to any subsequent invitation that is clearly addressed to her.
She also said that "this house (RTCG) means more and is more concerned about the members of the Employees' Union, than the Council and the management together".
"I expect that the future management will show understanding for our rights and their realization in the best possible way for the house where we work. "I will be the first to complain to the Council on my way out if it allows the withdrawal of loans, because that is not good for RTCG," said Drobnjak.
She also pointed out that the Trade Union "stopped trusting the general director", and that they suspended talks and negotiations with him because "first he claimed that he had money, and now he allegedly doesn't".
According to an earlier letter sent by Drobnjak to Šundić, which we had access to, it is stated that the employees tried to solve this issue before the Agency in 2017.
"Since the RTCG did not accept our proposal for a peaceful resolution of the labor dispute, we were forced to prove and protect the rights of employees in the court proceedings, which we succeeded with the judgment P. no. 85/19 of the Basic Court in Cetinje, based on an individual lawsuit filed by the president RTCG employees' union. After that, we started a new procedure before the Agency for all employees who gave a power of attorney to exercise the right to compensation, which is ongoing. In parallel with the proceedings before the Agency, on March 22, 03, you informed the employees on the notice boards that, based on the above-mentioned verdict, by hiring an economic expert, you calculated compensation for the wrongly calculated starting part of the salary for over 2021 current and former employees employees. Also, in that notice, you offered the employees that the compensation in question be paid in a maximum of six monthly installments. However, in the rumors circulating through the RTCG, it is said that you have gone one step further, that is, that you will first pay compensation to employees who did not initiate proceedings before the Agency for the Peaceful Resolution of Labor Disputes," claims Drobnjak in the letter.
She then warned the management that, if the issue of compensation for damages based on incorrectly calculated starting salary is not resolved peacefully in the proceedings before the Agency, she will bear direct responsibility for knowingly causing damage to RTCG.
"...In the name of the expected court, lawyer and other costs that will arise in court proceedings, the outcome of which is unquestionable," she announced.
The payment of wages is also questioned
According to another document, Šundić addressed the Council on March 29, when he presented them with the possibility of paying these claims in monthly installments or through credit borrowing from one of the commercial banks.
In a letter dated April 7, the general director warns the Council that "it is likely that the liquidity of RTCG will collapse in the coming period".
"Therefore, the execution of obligations related to monthly payments (loan installment payments, obligations to RDC according to a court ruling, payments according to final court judgments, salary payments to employees, etc.) is called into question," warned the Šundić Council.
On the same day, that body replied to him that they did not receive more requested information and documents and requested a meeting.
Since no solution was found during yesterday's meeting, Council members asked for additional information and documents, and unofficially told "Vijesta" that a new meeting could be organized next week.
Candidates for the Council agree that RTCG must be a service for all citizens
Yesterday, the administrative board finished with the interviews of 13 candidates for new members of the RTCG Council, and at the next session they will determine the proposals for the list for appointment.
Interviewing started the day before yesterday, when interviews were held with Stefan Bošković, Radoj Mijušković, Naod Zorić, Aleksandar Ćuković (proposals of national cultural institutions and NGOs), Veselin Drljević, Ljubomir Mudreša and Željko Đukić (proposals of NGOs from the field of media), while the board members yesterday they spoke with Veselin Vujanović, Milica Špajak, Amina Murić, Jovan Ulićević (NGO proposals) and Marijana Camović Veličković (Union of Free Trade Unions) and Nikola Tatar (Union of Trade Unions).
As explained by the President of the Board, Milun Zogović, the deadline for determining the proposal of the list for appointing members is April 19, until which time they will have time to consider the biographies and proposals of all potential candidates for RTCG council members.
The interviewed candidates believe that it is necessary to improve the work of the Public Service, introduce independent, balanced reporting, increase trust and viewership, competitiveness, and increase own production.
The majority of potential candidates also pointed out that in the previous period there were violations of program standards, and that in the following period the self-regulatory body needs to be strengthened, as well as that the Public Service must finally become all citizens and be freed from political influence.
In addition, they agree that there are too many employees in that media house, but that possible layoffs should be implemented with a good social program and a collective agreement.
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