According to the organizers, NDMBG has established itself as a green-left organization dedicated to solving tangible citizens’ problems, improving their living environment and living conditions and protecting public goods. The Solidarity platform brings to the table its experience in the fight for decent work, social security, protection of socio-economic and workers’ rights, as well as the fight for quality public services.
Robert Kozma from the NDMBG said that in recent years, this movement has shown its commitment to the fight for public interest and the defence of public resources. They are standing shoulder to shoulder with citizens on the streets in struggle to solve everyday issues and everyday problems that citizens face.
“There is need for a new green-left political option that stems from everyday life because today, unfortunately, Serbia is the country with the greatest social and economic inequalities in Europe with salaries that don’t allow for a dignified existence, job insecurity and poor public services. At the same time, the hallmark of the political system are institutions ruined by arrogant rulers”, Kozma stated.
Solidarity spokesman Milos Baković Jadzić said that the organization “consists of people who have long been present in the leftist struggles against commercialization of education, for the preservation of public goods and services, participated in feminist and environmental struggles, as well as those concerning labour legislation”. He added that “Solidarity” is an option of the political left distinguished by its readiness to engage in electoral politics. Baković Jadzić underlined that the platform members draw their inspiration from the parties of the European left, with which they have long-lasting connections.
“In the coming period we will focus on labour rights and social issues because we have many years of professional and activist experience and because we must no longer allow these issues to be removed from political agendas as has been the case so far, in the alarming situation in which we find ourselves today” added Solidarity spokeswoman Aleksandra Lakić.
According to Lakić the two organizations will jointly advocate for limiting the use of temporary contracts, further work flexibilisation, for higher standards of safety at work and the improvement of cooperation with trade unions, in order to strengthen collective bargaining.
NDMBG representative Biljana Đorđević said that solidarity for both movements is one of the basic values “…In addition to equality, participation, freedom, care and integrity. It is no coincidence that this is something that connects us because we have been uniting in solidarity for a long time. Even more importantly, we stand in solidarity with the disenfranchised”. She reminded the public that this is exactly the solidarity “coming from below which we built both in separate actions, but often together, too. This agreement of ours is a moment to talk more about new policies of institutionalization of solidarity “, stated Đorđević.
“A bad city is one in which institutions alienate us, not only through laws and regulations, but also through practices, the way of communicating with citizens and creating conflicts. In contrast, a good city is a city in which solidarity is built into its institutions from below”, said Đorđević.
Robert Kozma announced new agreements on cooperation with political movements and organizations that share similar political principles: “We must unite, but also build a coherent political option on the political principles that were discussed today,” Kozma said.
Finally, the organizers called on the citizens to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and the state to get serious and lead a clear and unequivocal vaccination campaign.
I.P.
Translation: Iskra Krstić
This article was ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED in Serbian on Oct 4, 2021.
