05. 01. 2012

MINISTRIES TO SPEAK OUT

Belgrade, January 5, 2012 (Danas) - Not even two weeks since entering into strike, employees of TV Avala have been given any reaction to their demands.

They have entered the new year with no health insurance and back salaries for full-time employees and 6 honoraria for associates that should have been paid by the end of December, it was stated yesterday by the TV Avala staff.

It remains unclear whether more than 40 external associates of this TV station would be sacked, as was announced previously. The problem, however, lies in the fact that many of such associates, contrary to the law, have not signed any contract since October 2011, thus giving the management of the station the oportunity to propose them the retroactive annullment of the contracts, despite the fact that the journalists were working the entire time.

President of the Strike Committee Nikola Vukomanovic says that they will demand the Ministry of Culture, Media and Information, together with the Ministry of Labor, to speak out why there has been no their reaction to the situation of a national broadcaster. There is also no indication as to whether Bojana Lekic is still general manager of the station.

On the other hand, Lekic stated that her contract with the TV station had expired on December 15, but was asked to stay on the position until the end of the year. According to her, the competent in TV Avala have announced a meeting with her for this week, however, it has not been held yet.