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MAY 1 ANNOUNCEMENT

Comrade trade unionists, sympathizers, and supporters of CCM, workers, and citizens

Today is May Day, Labor Day, International Worker's Day, and Labor and Social Rights.

In the name of the centuries-old struggle for workers' rights, provoked and initiated by the complex economic and social conditions in the country, the Federation of Trade Unions of Macedonia called on its membership, workers, and citizens to a protest that begins on this day - May Day.

Today's protest is organized by the oldest and most numerous trade union in the country, SSM, and is the only way for the government to hear the voice of all of us, workers and citizens, because in the past our social partners, employers, and holders of legislative and executive power seem to be deaf for the people problems, and unfortunately do care for only themselves.

It is time to tell them that we exist, that we who gave them the mandate to decide and govern, follow their steps, which in the last period, in our opinion, are idealess and hopeless.

It is time to tell them that we also exist to the employers, whose production processes are realized through our labor and whose income depends on our quality, fast and efficient work.

None of the protests organized by SSM is spontaneous, hasty, and without respecting the legal provisions. Historically, SSM does not start a protest without using all possible negotiating conditions and assumptions to create a balance between workers, the Government, and employers in all activities to build economic and social living conditions in the country.

So it is with today's protest.

There are many reasons for its organization.

For months, we have been pointing out the stagnation of the development of the country and the deepening of the crisis in all spheres of life.

We pointed out that a huge burden of the consequences of the economic, health, and energy crisis in our country and in the world, spilled only on the backs of workers.

Today with this protest we want to point out that in these crucial moments for the state, employers and the Government did not show will, efficiency and constructiveness, which resulted in the cessation of social dialogue, through which it is only possible to create a proper and solidarity distribution of the severity of side effects on all stakeholders of the state, and not only on the backs of the workers.

The burden of the crisis must be borne by all, not just the workers who have been brought to the brink of their endurance.

The crisis was not caused by us workers, we are continuously performing our work tasks, but with our salaries in conditions of an enormous increase in the prices of basic living items and needs, our survival is endangered.

And this problem lasts a  long time, without any perspective and moves to be changed something and problems to be solved.

It won't be like that anymore.

We have left you too much time, and there is no serious engagement on your part.

We want to be part of all state processes because we deserve it, we are part of the team,  without our effort economic development and prosperity can not be expected.

Our labor is necessary for all economic and social processes. Labor and work is the only thing with which we workers ensure our existence, but it is not properly valued and respected.

The main requirement is at least MKD 2,806 net amount linear increase of all salaries in the private and public sector immediately, including from the general worker to the President of the State.

We demand from the Government signing of the General Collective Agreement for the public sector which will regulate the salary increase as well as the return of the lost right to recourse for annual leave, and we demand the same from the Organization of Employers for signing the General Collective Agreement for the private sector.

We are dissatisfied:

We want higher wages, a gradual alignment of wages with the increase of the minimum wage, reduction of poverty.

We want more sustainable jobs, decent work, healthy and safe working conditions, and social security.

We demand our active participation in creating national policies and strategies, through social dialogue. We demand regulation of our working relations with Collective Agreement, as acts, in whose adoption we actively, professionally, and dedicatedly participate because we can do it.

We are looking for a new Labor Relation Law, we insist on employment rights harmonized with European and world legislation.

We are the workers of this country, trade unions from all fields, professors, builders, doctors, police officers, administrators, miners, and everyone else, we are a constructive part of the social and economic processes.

Here In SSM all fields are represented and that’s our strength, our power, we are trained, informed, we offer our contribution, but we also demand our rights. At the same time, we point out to you that we seek only ours, what we deserve, what we have achieved, and what we have done.

Today with this protest we want to warn you that we are dissatisfied with your ignorant attitude towards the unions and workers, we feel neglected and left on the margins of society.

We are oppressed and life-threatening from the stagnation of the state, we do not see clearly the steps you are obliged to take for the development of the economy and social relations.

The seriousness of the situation in the country, the dissatisfaction with your bad trade union policy, your rejection and disinterest in the hand extended by SSM, many times in the past period made us organize and defend our rights.

We have offered you legal solutions for a new Labor Law in accordance with the European and world legislation, we have offered a legal solution for a gradual increase of wages of workers in both the private and public sector, we have offered new modern texts of the General Collective Agreement for the public and private sector.

For all this, we found silence on your part, procrastination without reason, endless negotiations, without effect and explanation, the only offer on your part was your request for our patience, endless patience.

Today we have come here from all over the country to tell you that we will not wait any longer, our patience has reached its end, we have offered everything to be civilized and constructive, and in return, we have not received any of our demands that are of existential nature and character.

Now it is your time to make a move, you have received our request, we do not deviate from them, proof of that is today's protest.

Membership is united as never before because justice is on our side, we will not wait any longer.

We, the members of SSM, our sympathizers, supporters, and citizens, now and immediately demand our rights, which we once again mention are basic and elementary and have also long been fully deserved as a result of our hard work, dedication, and productivity.

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