The Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica announced that it will not remain silent due to, as they claim, the collapse of professional standards, interpersonal relationships, and the value of the knowledge of employees who have participated in the creation of the television station since its founding in 2021.
They claim that their wages and working conditions are among the worst in the sector, that their proposals are not accepted while their membership is exposed to pressure, and they are demanding the start of negotiations on a Collective Agreement.
The Union states that since the arrival of the new management in December 2023, the decisions of the RTV Podgorica Council, in which the management had a 3:2 majority, "have almost always been in favor of the management, not the employees."
They claim that the Council first dismissed one member, while the other two later resigned, and that in their publicly explained resignations they pointed out the management's way of working and doing business.
"This is precisely why the Council is not functional today, and not for the reasons that the management of RTV Podgorica and the RTV Podgorica Union (which is not representative) are trying to present to the public and shift responsibility for the Council's dysfunction onto the President of the Capital City Assembly," the statement states.
The Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica states that they participated in the work of the Council at nine sessions where the Rulebook on job systematization and increasing employee coefficients was discussed, submitting proposals to the Council and management for improving working conditions and employee salaries.
"None of these proposals were accepted," the Union claims.
They add that, in their opinion, the salaries and working conditions of employees are among the worst compared to other employees in the country, as well as among local public broadcasters.
The union states that it previously had about 70 members, and that today it has about 40.
According to their claims, union members were exposed to various forms of pressure, including mobbing, intimidation, blackmail, threats, disciplinary proceedings, reports, and dismissals.
They particularly highlight the case of the president of the Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica, against whom, as they state, disciplinary proceedings were initiated, after which he was suspended and fired.
"The President of the Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica has received two first-instance court rulings in his favor, while a final decision is expected," the statement said.
They add that since the arrival of the new management, their president has been exposed to actions that he and the union perceived as mobbing and revanchism, and that the reason for such a relationship was his insistence on protecting the rights of employees.
"The goal of such actions was clear — to weaken and ultimately shut down the Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica," the statement said.
It is also emphasized that the departure of numerous experienced employees was followed by new hiring in various sectors.
The union is therefore questioning the criteria used to recruit, as well as the expertise and competence of the new employees.
"Unfortunately, among the larger number of new employees, only a small number of them — just a few of them — can be said to have justified their engagement with their professional knowledge, experience and qualities and represent a real reinforcement for RTV Podgorica," the Union states.
They single out the head of the Business Sector as a positive example.
At the same time, they claim that journalists, cameramen, editors, studio show producers, sound engineers, editors, employees in marketing, administration, finance and other sectors were leaving television.
"That's not how knowledge is preserved. That's not how a serious public broadcaster is built. Television cannot be built on fear, division and suitability. It can only be built on knowledge, professionalism and responsibility," say the Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica.
They claim that the RTV Podgorica Trade Union is not representative and therefore cannot be a negotiator in the process of concluding a Collective Agreement.
"The only representative union in RTV Podgorica is the Union of the City RTV Podgorica," the statement states.
It is also pointed out that the second union is headed by the deputy editor-in-chief of RTV Podgorica.
"We consider it unacceptable that a manager at an employer simultaneously leads a union that is supposed to represent employees towards that same employer," the union said.
They add that there is an official email communication between the executive director and the president and members of the Executive Board of the Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica, in which, as they claim, animosity towards that union is expressed, as well as towards the Media Union of Montenegro and its leadership. They demand the start of negotiations on the Collective Agreement
The Trade Union of the City RTV Podgorica states that it has been trying to start negotiations on the Collective Agreement since March 13th.
As they claim, they submitted a proposal for a Collective Agreement, a proposal to increase coefficients, as well as other economic and social rights for employees, but to date they have not been offered a date to begin negotiations.
According to them, the reason for postponing the negotiations is the dysfunctionality of the RTV Podgorica Council.
The union believes that this is not a justification for postponing negotiations for several months.
"If there is a representative union, if there is a proposal for a Collective Agreement, and if there is a willingness to negotiate — what are we waiting for?" they ask.
They say they will not agree to pressure, divisions, and attempts to shut down the representative union.
"We will not remain silent. We will not give up. And we will not allow the rights of employees and their representative union to be turned into a means to pursue the interests of any individual or group. It is time for negotiations. It is time for answers. It is time to stop putting pressure on employees," the statement concluded.
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