Knezevic: Protests In The Spring

If the Government does not accept the new retirement reform, the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions will be protesting in the streets.

Ana Knezevic has announced a new reform of the retirement reform because, as she says, retired people fall in the poor segment of Croatian population.

- Even though it was claimed that it was not possible to make the old and new retired people equal, there is room to do it in Croatia – said Knezevic and added that the lowest retirement equalled 40 percent of the average salary in Croatia.

The president of the the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) also said that, in case the proposal was dismissed, a referendum or public protest would be organized and she would be at the helm.

She also mentioned the numerous complaints about labour unions being the legacy of the communist regime.

- There have been complaints, but this is no longer the case – claims Knezevic and adds that all the real estate that SSSH inherited from the old regime only represented costs, and not income.

"People do not respond to protests" 

Croatia's problem, according to her words, is that people do not respond to protests out of fear of their employers.

- For these reasons, the labour union scene needs to unite into a central organization – Knezevic says – or else the people will only respond when the situation gets critical.

She also mentioned the threats that were addressed to her in the course of the transition to market economy.

- I do not expect anything that I have not already been through, nor can anything surprise me – says the SSSH president.

"Croatia needs to proceed toward normal capitalism" 

As far as the Government is concerned, Knezevic thinks that it should work on proceeding into normal capitalism, leaving behind the "wild" capitalism.

- If we have two million people, out of which a million are retired and 450,000 with an income under two thousand kunas, who is going to buy products, that is to say, who is going to pay taxes to the state? – wondered Ana Knezevic.

Her final words during her appearance on the TV show Vis a Vis were the message that the state had to turn over a new page and that "everyone who works must be able to live on the salary."