SHSKUK considers 157 KKUK surgeons' strike illegal

Even though the Federation of Kosovo Health Unions has suspended the strike, which was foretold to resume on January 3rd, surgeons are continuing to hold a strike. USKKUK Director Basri Sejdiu has said this strike is being held only by several individuals, and as such it is illegal.

There are several groups of individuals for whom, by the way, I have given an order, and from the human and legal aspect, work contracts should be respected and work done normally. I've met the directors and explained that in the contacts I've had with the Minister of Health, but even with our institutions, I've been told that 17 to 22 the salary law will be voted in along with budget”, Basri Sejdiu told RTV Dukagjin.

While the representative of surgeons holding the strike, Arber Morina, said the FSSHK has lost credibility and did not represent surgeons' demands. According to him, the strike will last until their demands are met.

We really don't care how government or other institutions think of pay increases, there are lots of modalities, but we don't care about that. We interrupt the strike at the moment when we see that our accounts have raised” salaries, Arber Morina said.

He has also stated that he is being threatened by the USKKUK director for the decision they have made to continue the strike.

The director and his structures have begun threats against us. We have officially announced both the Health Minister and the USKKKUK director that the strike is a legitimate right of every individual in the Republic of Kosovo. The relevant directors that continue with threats will be reported to the Labour Inspectorate, and will face penalisations under the law in power”, surgeon Arber Morina further stated.

According to Morina, the strike, which is being held by 157 surgeons, is legal. And Article 6 strikes law says:

” The strike is organised by a union that has the quality of the legal person and is of

Registered in the Ministry of Labour and Social Management.

It's organized by half the employees inside a working organization.

Grava aims to implement demands from the labour relationship, by law and

Work contract.

On the other hand, lawyer Musa Damati, through an electronic answer to RTV Dukagjin says that in organisations where union organisation exists, the right to organise the strike has union. According to him, however, dissatisfied workers have the right to boycott work.

RTV Duagjini has tried to get an answer even Health Ministry officials on this issue, but they have refused to talk.