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Slovenian workers demand higher wages

Published Nov 21, 2007 10:32 AM

Workers demonstration enters Ljubljana.
Photo: Rudolf Baloh

The following report was sent to WW by Rudolf Baloh of the Revolutionary Bureau for Public Information in Slovenia.

Some 70,000 protesters took the streets of Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, on Nov. 17. Trade unionists, retired workers and students, left-wing and anti-war activists, communist and Marxist groups marched together to demand higher wages for workers. The protest was organized by the Freedom Unions of Slovenia (SSS).

The average pay in Slovenia is about 1,200 euros ($1,700) per month, but 75 percent of the workers earn less than this amount. Some 80,000 work for the miserable minimum salary, which is only 350 to 400 euros per month. Slovenia has the highest inflation rate in the European Union, 5.2 percent, caused by using the euro as its new currency.

About 20 percent of the 2 million people in Slovenia live in poverty. Food prices and electricity rates jumped 25 percent to 30 percent during 2007.

Slovenia was part of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia until 1991.