Serbian trade unions are organizing rallies in Belgrade today to mark International Labor Day, where they will announce demands for changes to labor legislation, BGNES reported.
They will then join the May Day student protest in front of the Serbian government building, Al Jazeera reported.
Trade unionists from Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, Kragujevac, and other cities will attend the protest in front of the Serbian government.
The student protest will begin at 2 p.m. local time (3 p.m. Bulgarian time) and will be joined by the Alliance of Independent Trade Unions of Serbia (SSSS), the United Trade Union "Independence," the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (ASNS), the United Trade Unions of Serbia "Sloga," and the Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
The ASNS rally began at 11:00 a.m. (12:00 p.m. Bulgarian time) on the plateau near "Russian Emperor" on Knez Mihailova Street, and at around 1:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. Bulgarian time), a speech by union president Ranka Savic is scheduled.
The march is scheduled to head toward the Serbian government building at 1:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. Bulgarian time) for a joint rally of the unions and students.
The SSSS rally will begin at 12:00 p.m. (1:00 p.m. Bulgarian time) at Nikola Pašić Square, where the May Day proclamation will be read, followed by a planned and organized march to the Serbian government building, where the union's conclusions and demands will be presented.
The union announced that it will mark Labor Day on May 1 and SSSS Day on April 27, "two dates that symbolize the struggle of workers for greater rights, higher wages, and a dignified life."
The Independence Union will mark May 1 at 11:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m.) at Slavia Square, after which it will submit an initiative to the Serbian government for changes to the Labor Law and the Strike Law.
The union rallies will also be attended by students who, together with union members, will observe 16 minutes of silence to mark six months since the tragedy caused by the collapse of the railway station canopy in Novi Sad, in which 16 people died. | BGNES