http://www.glassrbije.org/ap/en
THE SURVIVAL OF RADIO YUGOSLAVIA CALLED IN QUESTION The Trade Union of Radio Yugoslavia (International Radio Serbia) hereby wants to inform the public of the very difficult situation which employees in this media house have faced 73 years after its foundation. The reason for such a situation is not only the undefined status of our house, but also the irregular financing of its activities, which includes the issue of employees’ salaries. Although there is a 2009 budget rebalance ahead, Radio Yugoslavia has not received any official information from the Ministry of Culture on the amount of this year’s budget installment intended for the activities of our house. The financing of Radio Yugoslavia being defined in the budget under the entry SUBSIDIES, employees rightly fear that there will be a lump sum reduction of an annual installment, which will threaten the functioning and future of our house. After the previously adopted 2009 budget, monthly funds for Radio Yugoslavia were reduced by 12% compared with last year’s monthly budget installment, which led to a reduction of employees’ salaries to the same extent early this year. On the other hand, the irregular transfer of funds has threatened programme functioning, due to unsettled debts for electricity, satellite, internet, telephones, etc. If the financing of Radio Yugoslavia is not precisely defined in the budget of the Republic of Serbia and the total annual installment is reduced by another 20% judging by the announced Ministry’s measures, employees in Radio Yugoslavia fear with much reason that the future of our media house and the existence of their families as well will be seriously threatened. We expect the competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia and above all the Ministry of Culture and Minister Nebojša Bradić to take the problem we have faced seriously and to offer a solution to the future financing of Radio Yugoslavia as soon as possible, which solution would not differ to the financing of employees in the Ministry of Culture. If not, employees in Radio Yugoslavia will be compelled to radicalize their battle for the survival of their radio. The Trade Union hereby appeals to its colleagues in Serbia and abroad and to listeners to support the efforts of Radio Yugoslavia to preserve one of the oldest radio stations in the world. You can send your e-mails of support to the address radi...@sbb.rs.
