On the Occasion of International Workers’ Day, President Milanović Decorates Union Leaders Krešimir Sever, Mladen Novosel and Vilim Ribić
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has bestowed the Order of Stjepan Radić upon the President of the Independent Trade Unions of Croatia Krešimir Sever, the President of the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia Mladen Novosel and the Secretary-General of the Independent Union of Research and Higher Education Employees of Croatia Vilim Ribić for their years-long union work and services in the struggle for the social rights of workers.
“You and I, who have been on opposite sides of the ‘barricades’ more than once, have one thing in common. Namely, I have never been decorated by anyone. And neither were you. It’s late for me, it still isn’t for you and I’m glad that I can correct this strange circumstance. Not everyone receives a decoration and we try to have some criteria. When it comes to public contribution, it is always a bit arbitrary. I do not shy away from that,” President Milanović said at the award presentation ceremony held in the Office of the President on the eve of International Workers’ Day.
The President told union leaders that their struggle is difficult because today, unlike 50 or 60 years ago, it is not known where their rival is. “It’s a lot harder now and that’s why you’re struggling so much, especially those of you who are more active in the private sector, to recognize where the problem is in this hybrid conflict and to speak and be heard,” he added.
President Milanović told the public sector unionists to be persistent, but also reasonable and forgiving towards anyone in office, “because the government, even the worst government, would like more than anything to satisfy the needs of its employees and go about doing other things… if it could, every government would first increase salaries by 50% and then deal with public, private or murky affairs,” said President Milanović.
The Secretary-General of the Independent Union of Research and Higher Education Employees of Croatia Vilim Ribić spoke at the ceremony on behalf of the decorated unionists, expressing gratitude for the awards. Extending best wishes on the occasion of International Labour Day, Mr. Ribić thanked President Milanović for bestowing the decorations, adding that the unionists did not expect to receive them. “We speak passionately. A union cannot fight against lies and injustice without passion. We understand very well how important conflict is and how much it accelerates the resolution of numerous issues and problems,” he said.
“I see how wrong Croatia is now on its most important issue, emigration, because we are not ready to go to Brussels and be in conflict over that issue, along with other eastern and south-eastern countries. We will not change something that is destroying our national being with the language of diplomacy. We who are in the unions hurt because of that, yet we do not have the power to influence this and incite change,” Mr. Ribić said, adding that trade unionists had been in conflict with President Milanović several times while he was prime minister. “Unfortunately, I can say, we were right. We recognized how dangerous the policy of cuts and austerity is, economically speaking, which led to the emigration of so many people. Conflict divides people at first sight, but only wise people can see that there is a common denominator in conflict,” he concluded.
Head of the Office of the President Orsat Miljenić, Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for the Economy Velibor Mačkić, Adviser to the President of the Republic for Human Rights and Civil Society Melita Mulić and Secretary-General of the Office of the President Dinko Suton were at the award ceremony alongside President Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Ana Marija Katić