Fiat workers' protest was fair, Brnabic to meet with Stellantis today

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic thanked the workers of Fiat, who held a one-hour protest this morning, for being fair and not blocking the factory in Kragujevac, and told them to continue to trust the Government of Serbia.

Brnabic told Happy TV that about 300 workers took part in the one-hour protest and announced that she would continue talks with representatives of Stellantis at 10:30 am today.

She told the workers that the Government of Serbia would do its best to protect them.

Brnabic said that after a difficult and honest meeting with trade unions and workers, the Government of Serbia already on Monday did what was agreed and joined the talks on solving the problem.

"The agreement was for the government to mediate talks between Stellantis and the union. To try to improve conditions for workers who will not stay at the Stellantis factory, in the transition until 2024 to producie a new electric model," the prime minister said.

She said that the period for workers to declare themselves has been extended 10 days, and that she had talks with Stellantis yesterday about mediation in order to fight for the best conditions for workers.

"We are continuing the conversation today at 10:30. Fiat did not behave properly either. They continued to invite workers for an interview, which is not fair because the conditions are still being negotiated," said Brnabic.

She specified that there are 2,016 workers in Kragujevac, of which about 500 will remain for the transition period to help, and about 500 will no longer be needed.

"Together we are preparing severance pay for them, a package they will be satisfied with," said Brnabic.

She added that about 1,000 workers will remain working on the new model, and that in the meantime they will go abroad for training for production of electric cars.

She said that there was no problem in seeing the workers from Kragujevac every day and recalled the situation with about 1,500 workers of Geox in Vranje who lost their jobs, "and received settlement."

"There is a need for 1,500 workers in Kragujevac at the moment. Other investors we brought there are looking for them," Brnabic said.

She stated that Kragujevac is no longer a valley of the hungry and that four more investments are being negotiated for that city.

"We will solve this as well. I plead with the workers to be fair. They cannot expect us to fulfill everything immediately after the meeting, continue to talk to Stellantis, while the workers go on a protest. I will talk to Stellantis about why they violated the agreement and continued to call on workers to choose (whether to leave or stay), that is not fair, the workers are right about that," said Brnabic.

She stressed that the Government of Serbia, as a co-owner of the company, will ensure that there is no manipulation in solving problems, neither by the previous management nor by politicians. According to her, some media are trying to abuse the workers and the union, and to present the success of agreeing to manufacture the new electric model there in 2024 as a failure.

"It is just one in a series of lies," Brnabic said.

(Telegraf Biznis)