The Ministry of Transport and the Railway Transport Company of Montenegro (ŽPCG) are working together to define the necessary steps to resume regular train services, recognizing the public interest of the service, according to a statement issued after today’s meeting between Transport Minister Maja Vukićević and representatives from the Railway Union and the Union of Free Unions.
The Ministry of Transport and ŽPCG must take further action to normalize regular railway services, while ensuring the safety of railway transport, protecting passengers, and safeguarding the state-owned ŽPCG, the statement emphasized.
Miroslav Babović, a representative of the United ŽPCG Union, spoke after the meeting with Vukićević, calling the conversation constructive, though long and difficult. “There was willingness on both sides to overcome the problem and ensure that the railway transport continues functioning as it did before. We’ve issued a joint statement with the Ministry, but I cannot share the proposals or agreements at this moment, as we still need to consult with the employees to see if the conditions are acceptable,” Babović explained.
He added that further discussions would continue with the Ministry if necessary.
Amendments to employment contracts were proposed after a Ministry inspection revealed that some employees were performing the same jobs in both ŽPCG and other companies. The changes would prohibit such dual employment.
So far, three workers have been dismissed for not signing the amendments, and the deadline for signing has passed for another 43 machinists and car inspectors, who fear they will also lose their jobs.
During a media conference, workers emphasized their demand for the annulment of the amendments and the reversal of dismissals. They stated that, if their demands are not met, they would call for the resignation of ŽPCG’s Executive Director, Dragana Lukšić, and the Board of Directors. Train operations have been halted for days, and Lukšić recently stated that the disruptions were caused by workers removing trains from the tracks over minor issues while demanding higher wages.
