The Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia has ruled that the strike organized by the representative unions of the Zagreb Electric Tramway (ZET) at the end of September was illegal. The decision confirms the first‑instance ruling of the County Court of Zagreb issued on 30 September 2026. According to the Supreme Court’s reasoning, the unions were not permitted to begin a strike before the legal procedure that determines which services are deemed essential and must continue during a work stoppage had been completed. The employer had submitted a proposal for rules on essential services in a timely manner, and the procedure required completion before the strike could legally commence. The Court emphasized that this requirement does not infringe the constitutional right of workers to strike. The Court noted that a work stoppage in public transport without pre‑determined essential services would directly jeopardise public interest, citizens’ rights and the functioning of Zagreb. “The decision confirms that we were correct in insisting that a strike in public transport, which performs vital services for Zagreb residents, must not be carried out without identifying the services that cannot be interrupted,” said Marko Bogdanović, president of the ZET Board. The strike, which began in late September, was triggered by workers’ dissatisfaction with the proposed wage increases and terms of the collective agreement. The stoppage affected public transport and waste collection services. Employers challenged the legality of the strike in court. On 30 September, the County Court of Zagreb issued two separate rulings declaring the strikes in both the Zagreb Holding and ZET illegal, each with distinct legal justifications. The Supreme Court, hearing the case yesterday, confirmed the illegal nature of the strike in the Zagreb Holding. The city company announced receipt of the ruling, thereby confirming the first‑instance decisions on two consecutive days. While the legality of the ZET strike has been settled, negotiations on a new collective agreement continue. Bogdanović said, “We are currently negotiating with the representative unions on a new collective agreement for ZET workers. We hope to reach an agreement on improving material rights for employees while preserving the financial stability of the business and ensuring the urgently needed investments in ZET’s modernization.”
Article source: Večernji List | Image credit: Večernji List