Security personnel at the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK) have officially gone on strike today, following the unresolved termination of contracts impacting nearly 300 workers.
The announcement came Thursday from Jusuf Azemi, head of the Union of the Private Sector of Kosovo, after meeting with QKUK Director Osman Hajdari.
“We’ve exhausted all options and prioritized dialogue from the beginning,” Azemi said. “This issue could have been resolved in two hours, or three days at most. Yet we’re still at square one. The strike begins tomorrow at 10:00.”
Azemi attributed the ongoing delays to alleged mismanagement and lack of institutional willpower.
“Due to the misuse of authority by various parties, the Economic Commissions have stepped in. When asked when this could end, I said—with real will—it could be over in three days. They asked us to delay the strike until Tuesday, but the workers are firm: it starts Friday.”
According to Azemi, responsibility is being irresponsibly passed from one institution to another.
“KRPP says it’s not their problem, OSHPE says the same, and now QKUK claims it’s not their responsibility either—it lies with SHSKUK. If SHSKUK had genuine will and wasn’t biased toward a specific company, this could’ve been resolved by Monday.”
Other union representatives also voiced full support for the strike.
Hakif Syla, president of the QKUK Security Association, stated:
“We’re united. We won’t end the strike without written confirmation that workers can return to their jobs.”
Xhemajl Bajrami, one of the affected guards, said:
“This situation affects nearly 300 people. Around 280 to 300 workers have been on the payroll since privatization, including emergency transporters listed under security.”
This strike follows several weeks of protests, during which security workers demanded:
- Job security
- Improved working conditions
- A return to direct QKUK management under SHSKUK oversight