08. 04. 2024.

After intense negotiations in the presence of the Republic Agency for Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes on April 8th, 2024, an Agreement on Settlement of a Collective Labour Dispute was signed by the Education Trade Union of Serbia and the Ministry of Education in the framework of amending the Special Collective Agreement in Higher Education.

The proceedings before the Agency were initiated ex officio, pursuant to the Law on Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes, immediately after the filing of a Motion by the Education Trade Union. The acting conciliator, professor Živko Kulić, PhD, has established the Conciliation Panel on the first session, in line with the Law, with the said Panel consisting of the representatives of the parties and the conciliator. After three sessions the viewpoint of parties on disputed issues started to converge and finally were aligned. The Conciliation Panel members have produced the final text of the Joint Recommendation which they have unanimously approved, in line with the Law.

The Trade Union and Ministry representatives have also signed an Agreement on Dispute Settlement based on the aforementioned Recommendation, which will be integrated into the Special Collective Agreement on the Amendments to the Special Collective Agreement for Higher Education.

By deciding to resolve the collective dispute with the assistance of the Agency and the skilful facilitation by professor Živko Kulić, PhD, the parties have contributed to the preservation of social peace and good relations and demonstrated the advantages of peaceful labour dispute settlement through improved social dialogue.