Slovenian workers demand higher wages
Published Nov 21, 2007 10:32 AM
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Workers demonstration enters Ljubljana.
Photo: Rudolf Baloh
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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.
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