Macedonian Courts Blocked by Strike

Agence France presse, 12 December 2000

SKOPJE, Dec 12, 2000—(Agence France Presse) Macedonian courts were blocked on Monday morning after more than three thousand legal employees went on strike demanding higher salaries.

Trade unions pledged to continue the strike until their demands, which include a 30 percent wage increase, are met.

Justice Minister Dzevdet Nasufi told journalists that the “unjustified demands cannot be fulfilled,” adding however that requests to be paid for overtime work over the past three years would be met.

He also said that next year's budget would be more “relaxed” after Macedonia signed agreements with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Macedonian government plans to reorganize the justice administration and cut back on the 96,000 jobs within it, which would result in pay rises for those who remain.