(13 April 2012) The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) sends its solidarity to the Union of Health and Social Protection Workers of Serbia. This struggle, that started in 2011 with public sector strikes and protest, tries to redress the difficult financial situation of employees in the health sector in the country. Only with a well funded and well staffed health sector will the Serbian population enjoy decent health care.

The Government’s broken promises and lack of will to deliver a good health system has forced the Union of Health and Social Protection Workers of Serbia to organise a protest that will be held on 19 April at Nikola Pasic Square in front of the Serbian government.

If the Serbian government does not meet the demands of trade unions with tangible progress of working conditions and the improvement in the quality of the service, the Union will call a strike on April 25 of the 65 000 health workers in Serbia.

We wish the union a successful mobilisation of its members and health workers to convince the Government to reconsider their attitude. We support the actions which are part of a broader trends of trade union protests to defend and promote public services for Europe’s people.