HRA NEWSLETTER 13 – TOPIC 15

The Judiciary Union of Montenegro and the Ministry of Justice signed an agreement to end the strike by court administration staff and implement salary increases starting with the November payroll. Union President Dejan Đukić stated that about 90% of employees’ demands were met and that the salary increase will approach the original request of 30%. The agreement also provides for the formation of a working group on 1 December to draft the Law on Judicial Administration Salaries, after which a sectoral collective agreement is expected to be signed.

However, the Administration and Judiciary Union disputes the validity of the agreement. President Nenad Rakočević stated that the agreement “is not binding” for their members and that negotiations with the government are ongoing. He announced the continuation of one-hour work stoppages until a “concrete and legally justified solution” is reached, including the 30% salary increase. If no agreement is reached, Rakočević warned that the strike may be escalated.

Although both unions agree that a specific law is needed to regulate positions and salary coefficients in the judicial administration, the agreement with the Ministry of Justice has so far pacified only part of the employees, while the other group intends to continue their struggle.

HRA NEWSLETTER 13

• N13.T1 – The Constitutional Court Still Waiting for Judges – Parliament Fails to Elect Any of the Proposed Candidates
• N13.T2 – Draft Amendments to the Law on the Constitutional Court of Montenegro Prepared – New Retirement Conditions for Judges
• N13.T3 – Vesna Medenica Convicted Again – Sentenced to Prison
• N13.T4 – Miloš Medenica Released from Spuž Detention, Vesna Medenica from House Arrest
• N13.T5 – State Prosecutor Srđa Jovanović Sentenced to Prison for Abuse of Office
• N13.T6 – Defendants Acquitted in the “Tunnel” Case, Widespread Criticism of the Verdict
• N13.T7 – The Prosecutor’s Office Report under the Shadow of Political Pressure
• N13.T8 – What Is the Role of the Supreme State Prosecutor?
• N13.T9 – Proposed Candidates for the Prosecutorial Council: One Studied for 16 Years
• N13.T10 – Statute of Limitations and Dismissal of Criminal Complaints in Prosecution Offices and Courts – Inefficiency or Something More Serious?
• N13.T11 – Supreme Court Identified a Procedural Error by the Administrative Court – Case on the Prosecutorial Council’s Decision to Be Reconsidered
• N13.T12 – New Judicial Code of Ethics Adopted – Ilićković to Lead Oversight Commission
• N13.T13 – Process of Establishing the Special Court Begins
• N13.T14 – Basic Court in Rožaje Hosts Open Day: Addressing Peer Violence and Court Challenges
• N13.T15 – Two Unions, Two Approaches to Strikes in the Judiciary