Serbia - Unionists abused and discriminated against (2011)

After a four-day strike over wage arrears in May 2010 in the pharmaceutical company Srbolek, in Beograd, the employer reduced the pay for strike leaders from the trade union Nezavisnost - Chemical, Non-Metal, Energy, and Mining Industries Union (GS HNER) by 60%. During the second 65-day strike over the same issue starting on 9 August 2010, workers and trade union leaders were subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including illegal surveillance, by the company owner Jovica Stefanović and a hired security team. The employer has previously also undertaken discriminatory measures against women workers who were pregnant or who gave birth.