Workers from “Pastrimi”, the municipal waste management company in Prishtina, have entered their seventh day of strike, demanding the payment of a €2.7 million debt allegedly owed to the company by the Municipality of Prishtina.
The strike is being carried out in three shifts, with workers camping day and night in front of the Municipal building. They are firm that they will not end the strike until all demands are fulfilled.
Main grievances:
- Unpaid services: The union claims the debt accrued after the municipality encouraged citizens not to pay for waste collection services for a period of five months, causing severe financial damage to the company.
- Contractual concerns: Workers also raised issues related to contracts, the status of the public enterprise, and competition with private operators.
Union and Worker Statements:
Ardian Krasniqi, head of the workers’ union, emphasized:
“This situation was caused by the Municipality’s call for citizens not to pay. We provided services for five months with no income. We have no way back — returning without guarantees would mean unemployment for us.”
Halil Behluli, a company driver, warned of further operational collapse:
“We’ve reached a point where we can’t even buy fuel due to the lack of funds. This may soon affect our salaries. We’re asking the Municipality and the management to come together and find a solution.”
He also apologized to citizens:
“We regret that we can’t deliver services to the people. It’s not their fault — it’s the result of political decisions.”
