MEDIA RELEASE (Podgorica, 28. April 2010) - Following the sudden dismissal of Sandra Obradovic, the head of one of the trade-union organizations in the Aluminum Plant - Podgorica (KAP), a number of NGOs are demanding of [Montenegrin] state institutions that they ensure that rights to trade-union organization and freedom of speech are protected.

The KAP management handed Sandra Obradovic dismissal papers because of her presence at a round-table discussion organized by MANS [a local anti-corruption NGO] about the privatization of Montenegrin companies. The company justified her dismissal by stating that her participation at the event was aimed at fulfilling a "private need" and that by doing so she had abused her trade-union function and demonstrated her lack of respect for the employer.

We are demanding that the responsible state institutions, beginning with the Labour Inspectorate, as well as the Human Rights and Freedoms Ombudsperson react and prevent the employer from exercising their will by investigating the legality of Sandra Obradovic's dismissal. We believe that the state has the right and obligation to force the owners of Montenegrin companies to respect the law and human rights, we expect that the responsible institutions will react immediately, since the Sandra Obradovic's rights have already been drastically violated.

Every citizen of Montenegro has the right to freedom of thought and speech, as well as the right to enjoy basic trade-union and labour rights, we therefore demand that the responsible government institutions guarantee the full enjoyment of these rights to everyone, especially to trade-union activists who represent not only their own, but also the interests of numerous other workers whose rights have also been violated in the privatization process. We believe that this case represents a test for the institutions of the system to shift from rhetorical commitments to concrete actions and to secure full respect for the application of the law to all legal subjects in our society.

SIGNATORIES:

NVO Mreža za afirmaciju nevladinog sektora (MANS) [NGO Network for the Affirmation of the NGO sector]
NVO Forum 2010 [NGO Forum 2010]
NVO Inicijativa mladih za ljudska prava [NGO Youth Initiative for Human Rights]
NVO Akcija za ljudska prava [NGO Action for Human Rights]
NVO Sigurna ženska kuća [NGO Women's Safe House]
NVO 35 mm [NGO 35 mm]
NVO Centar za antidiskriminaciju “EKVISTA” [NGO Center for Anti-Discrimination 'EKVISTA']
NVO Viva vita [NGO Viva Vita]
NVO Liga žena glasača u Crnoj Gori [NGO Women Voters' League in Montenegro]
NVO Međunarodni forum Crna Gora [NGO International Forum Montenegro]
NVO Udruženje roditelja Crne Gore [NGO Parents Association of Montenegro]
NVO SOS telefon za žene i djecu žrtve nasilja [NGO SOS Telephone for Women and Children Victims of Abuse]
NVO Evropski pokret u Crnoj Gori [NGO European Movement in Montenegro]
NVO Alfa centar [NGO Alfa Center]

Mirjana Kuljak, profesor na Univerzitetu Crne Gore [Professor at the University of Montenegro]
Filip Kovačević, profesor na Univerzitetu Crne Gore [Professor at the University of Montenegro]
Darko Ivanović – Skočko, novinar [journalist]
Marijana – Maja Mugoša, NVO aktivista [NGO activist]

COPY OF DISMISSAL ORDER:
http://www.mans.co.me/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Sandra-upozorenje-pred-...