Russian Railways interested in Gosa? – Talks with local self-government on September 12

The strike at the rail vehicle producer Gosa is ongoing. Following the protests in Belgrade and then in Smederevska Palanka itself, the strikers withdrew within the factory's premises, where they are waiting for the outcome of the latest negotiations, which, as they say, they have initiated themselves.

– We talked to some of our buyers, a couple of companies, about their giving us money in advance for us to do the job for them. None of us is willing or capable of working for free anymore – Milan Vujicic, president of the strikers board, says for Politika and adds that they are waiting for the outcome of these negotiations.

When asked about the two rail cars they need to complete for the Serbian Railways, provided that they are paid the first amount of RSD 30,000 per worker, Vujicic says that the two rail cars are meant for Srbija Voz.

– If we are not paid the first part, which has been promised, we will do the job as a minimum of the labor process without pausing the strike, as we can't live on those 30,000. But, if they had wanted to fulfill their part of the agreement, we would have already been paid the money.

That there are nevertheless certain indications that the six-month agony might soon end is confirmed by the latest announcements coming from the Municipality of Smederevska Palanka.

– The authorities told us that representatives of the Russian Railways are coming to the municipality on Tuesday, September 12. Allegedly, they have a plan and will offer to buy Gosa together with a Slovakian company not related to our former owner. However, it's easy to promise anything – Vujicic says.

He believes that the state is washing its hands of the workers of Gosa. This is apparent, he says, from their insisting on being a private company.

– It is true that we are a private company, but the Labor Law makes no difference between the workers in private and other companies. The point is that the state does not know how to explain to people in Serbia why it has allowed this private owner not to pay the taxes and contributions to the workers for five years. They'd readily push us into bankruptcy as well, but then they wouldn't be able to explain why somebody was not doing their job – Vujicic says.

Goša fabrika šinskih vozila d.o.o. Smederevska Palanka

Opština Smederevska Palanka

Železnice Srbije a.d. Beograd

RŽD International

Gosa rail car factory

FSV Gosa

Gosa

Srbija Voz

Russian Railways

strike in Gosa

Milan Vujicic