Croacia - The institute of immunology gave a caution to a steward that spoke at a press conference

On 1 March 2016 the Autonomous Trade Union of Energy, Chemistry and Non-metal Workers of Croatia (EKN) organised a press conference regarding policy choices of the Institute of Immunology. At this occasion a shop steward spoke in public on behalf of the trade union and of workers on the compelling need to continue the production and issuing relevant permits. Following the press conference, the Institute issued a caution and threatened the worker with dismissal because, according to management, “no one authorised her to speak in public on behalf of the company” while clearly she was speaking on behalf of the workers. In this respect EKN stated that this is a clear attempt to ban trade union public statements that raise awareness on the policy choices of general interest concerning this public institute.