Zubin Potok has been grappling with uncollected garbage for several days, as around 40 employees of the local public utility company “Ibar” have gone on strike. The workers – primarily waste collectors, drivers, and other staff with secondary education – walked off the job on Monday in protest over what they describe as unfair pay raises that favored administrative staff over those doing the most physically demanding work.
“We may not be highly educated, but we do the hardest work and deserve to be respected,” said one of the striking workers in a statement to KoSSev. His identity is known to the newsroom.
The workers allege that following recent salary increases at the company, certain individuals in management awarded themselves significant raises and bonuses, while those responsible for the daily collection and disposal of waste received only minimal adjustments.
“They inflated their own coefficients and added 10% bonuses on top of that. Their salaries are now over 150,000 dinars, while ours remain meager. We’re the ones who carry the weight of this job. Why are we being pushed down while they take more? It’s not fair,” the worker said, adding that such inequality has persisted for years.
“Some of them don’t even show up at their workplaces but still get paid—and now they’re getting raises, too. They may be educated, but we’re the so-called ‘garbage men,’ even though we’re the ones keeping this town clean. We worked through the pandemic, day and night, risking our health every single day,” he added.
Residents confirm the town has been left strewn with trash, with overflowing containers and garbage spilling onto the streets and into smaller bins across Zubin Potok.
The workers have submitted a list of demands to the company leadership, which they say includes not only fairer pay but also better working conditions, safer equipment, and an end to alleged mismanagement.
“We get one pair of gloves for the whole week while they’re stuffing their pockets. There’s the issue of fuel, and a lot more,” the worker claimed.
Management, according to the workers, has yet to offer a solution, but the strikers say they are willing to wait—within reason.
“We’re patient, but we want our rights. Let them put on gloves and uniforms and go clean the streets if they don’t have a solution. We just want what’s fair—nothing more,” the worker added.
Director: We’re Negotiating
The director of the municipal utility company, Blagoje Orlović, confirmed to KoSSev that the strike is due to salary dissatisfaction.
“We’ve had an issue with the workers. They’ve been on strike since Monday—mostly sanitation staff and some from the water services department, all with secondary education. There were some pay raises, and they are unhappy,” he said.
Orlović also confirmed that clean-up operations resumed on Friday but not with local staff. Instead, a team from Mitrovica was brought in to assist.
“We contacted the utility company in Mitrovica, and they’re currently on the ground,” he said.
While addressing the mounting waste issue is now a priority, Orlović said negotiations with the strikers are ongoing and expressed optimism that a resolution will be reached soon.
“We’re negotiating with them and hope we can reach an agreement quickly,” he stated.
No Ban on Local Landfill
Orlović also refuted media reports suggesting that the reason for the trash buildup was a ban on the use of the local landfill.
“No, that’s not true. The only reason is the strike, and we hope to resolve it soon,” he clarified.
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