The Union of Workers of Radio Television of Kosovo (SPERTK) has announced that if budget funds are not allocated by August 5, they will hold their first protest on August 6 as a warning ahead of a general strike.
The head of SPERTK, Gëzim Bimbashi, said in a press conference that the failure to constitute the Assembly has blocked RTK.
“Today, SPERTK publicly expresses its concern and indignation over the alarming situation faced by Radio Television of Kosovo, due to the lack of budget allocation and the blocking of our capacities. RTK, as a public service, has a constitutional and legal obligation to inform citizens independently and impartially. The lack of budget is putting this fundamental mission in jeopardy. Due to the failure to constitute and act by the Assembly, RTK has been blocked. However, we must make it clear that this blockage does not affect the salaries of MPs and state officials, but the workers of RTK, who, although their budget is allocated by law, are unable to receive their salaries,” Bimbashi stated.
He further added that if this situation continues, 700 employees will go without pay, and the functioning of the public broadcaster will be at serious risk.
“If this situation continues, over 700 workers will be left without salaries and the operation of the public broadcaster will be seriously endangered. We are obliged to take further union actions. SPERTK gives state institutions until August 5 to allocate the funds in accordance with legal obligations. If no concrete steps are taken by then, on August 6, SPERTK will organize the first protest, as a warning for further actions, including a general strike,” Bimbashi said.
Meanwhile, SPERTK member Fisnik Durguti said they also met with the Ombudsperson to express their concerns.
“We have held meetings with various institutional actors, including the Office of the Ombudsperson, where we expressed our daily concerns. Every government that has come into power has assured us that the statute of the public broadcaster will be amended, but it is now quite clear that there has been no political will,” Durguti said.
SPERTK called on all political parties and institutions not to use RTK for political purposes but to protect it as public property and as one of the pillars of democracy.
