The presidents of the International and European Federations of Journalists, Dominik Pradali and Maja Sever, sent a letter at the initiative of the Media Union of Montenegro regarding the state of labor and trade union rights at RTCG.
They sent the letter to Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, President Jakov Milatović, Ombudsman Siniša Bjeković, and Ministers of Labor and Culture Naida Nišić and Tamara Vujović, as well as RTCG Director Boris Raonić.
We transmit the letter in its entirety:
"The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ), together with its Montenegrin affiliate, the Media Union of Montenegro (SMCG), express serious and growing concerns regarding the state of labor and trade union rights at the Public Service Broadcaster RTCG. We would particularly like to draw attention to persistent reports of anti-union discrimination, pressures on employees to resign from the union, as well as the systematic weakening of the RTCG Employees' Union.
In the past, numerous employees have reported that they were subjected to direct and indirect pressure to resign from the RTCG Employees' Union. These practices have created an atmosphere of fear, insecurity and professional retaliation. Such treatment constitutes a serious violation of the fundamental right to freedom of association, guaranteed by the Constitution of Montenegro, the Labor Law, relevant conventions of the International Labor Organization, as well as European labor and human rights standards.
Of particular concern is the fact that these pressures are occurring in the context of broader, already documented problems with the governance and legality of RTCG. The targeting of union members and activists raises serious concerns that these actions are deliberate and aimed at weakening collective representation, in order to reduce the ability of employees to protect their rights, working conditions and professional dignity.
We also wish to highlight the continued failure to advance and sign a new collective agreement at RTCG. This leaves employees without a clear and binding framework for the protection of their labor, social and professional rights. Combined with the pressures on the union, this situation points to a systemic disregard for social dialogue and the standards expected of public service broadcasters in democratic societies.
Public service broadcasters have a unique and crucial role in democratic societies. They are entrusted with safeguarding pluralism, ensuring access to reliable information and reflecting the diversity of voices and opinions in society. Their credibility rests not only on editorial independence, but also on their ability to reflect democratic values internally. Respect for labour rights, freedom of association and social dialogue are inseparable from the mission of public service broadcasters.
When trade union rights are violated within a public institution, the problem is doubly serious. This undermines the very principles that a public service broadcaster is supposed to represent and report on — democracy, transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights. A broadcaster that does not respect these values in its own working environment cannot credibly promote them to the wider public. This contradiction undermines trust in the institution, weakens its democratic legitimacy, and damages Montenegro's international reputation.
The IFJ, EFJ and SMCG emphasize that creating an atmosphere of fear and pressure on workers for exercising their basic trade union rights is incompatible with European values and labor standards.
Creating an atmosphere of fear and pressure on workers for exercising their basic trade union rights is incompatible with European values and labour standards. Such practices must be urgently investigated and stopped.
"We urge you to consider this communication with due care and, within your jurisdiction, to take measures to ensure effective protection of the labor and trade union rights of RTCG employees," the letter to Pradali and Sever states.
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