The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today expressed their outrage over a complete neglect of journalists' right to strike for five-month overdue salaries at the Serbian TV station Avala.

According to the EFJ affiliate, the Journalists' Union of Serbia (JUS), the station's 170 employees have not been paid for the last five months and their social and health insurance was cancelled for 2012. 

The on-going strike began on 22 December 2011, after the union's demand has been ignored, and the competent authorities refused to deal with the matter. The management also threathened to call the police if the strike continues.

"We are appalled by the behaviours of the management of TV Avala who blatantly ignored the trade union rights of our colleagues and refused to open social dialogues with the union," said EFJ President Arne König.

"Employers have a legal obligation to pay their employees and workers. If employees are not paid in a timely manner, repercussion must be put in place to prevent exploitations of workers,"

"We call on the competent authorities in Serbia to ensure that the labour rights of journalists are upheld," said König.

The EFJ will write to the competent authorities in Serbia and urge them to resolve the situation in TV Avala, according in accordance with laws and practices exisiting in the Eureopan Union.

The EFJ represents over 260,000 journalists in 30 countries

For more information contactthe EFJ at +32 2 235.2200