vzmd.newswire.com - as a part of their efforts to restore the Port of Koper operations and start a constructive dialog between workers, management and the government, VZMD turned also towards the international media

To summarize:

On Sunday, the traditional family day in Slovenia, families and loved ones of approximately 1,000 workers of the Port of Koper (the operator of the port of Koper) along with supporters from the community converged on the gates of the blockaded port in an effort to spend the day together. VZMD president Mr. Kristjan Verbič, addressed the peaceful protestors at the spontaneous rally.

Conflict over the port has been simmering for more than a month, stoked in part by the demand of the government-owned Slovenian Sovereign Holding (SSH), to replace three members of the Port of Koper’s Supervisory Board, in disregard of the stellar results achieved by both of the Port’s incumbent boards.

At the Port of Koper’s general meeting, SSH, the majority shareholder, unexpectedly withdrew its replacement demand and the Chairman of SSH resigned. Despite these developments, workers blockaded the port, primarily due to the emergence of a document in which the Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Peter Gašperšič, detailed amendments to the port’s Concession contract which would radically change the organization and management of the port. Under this plan, the port would be divided into concession zones and a new, dedicated port management would be introduced. If implemented, these changes would completely alter the Port of Koper’s successful business model, which has led to the Port of Koper’s superb business results.

Rail freight shipments from the port of Koper ground to a complete halt as a result of the blockade. The workers, who have been deemed "assassins of the economy" by the Chairman of the National Assembly, are demanding a meeting with the Prime Minister over the port’s future along with the resignation of the Infrastructure Minister.

In his speech, Mr. Verbič attempted to bridge the divide between port workers and the government, and stressed it was of utmost importance to stabilize the situation at the Port of Koper and to restore operations to the sole Slovenian port, a goal which he noted has unfortunately not been mentioned by some of the highest government representatives in their public statements.

This was Mr. Verbič’s third speech of the week concerning events at the Port of Koper. Following the mass rally on June 28th at the port of Koper at which Mr. Verbič spoke, Mr. Verbič was invited to the parliamentary Public Finance Oversight Commission, to voice his opinion in the continuing battle regarding the Port of Koper.

On Friday, July 1st, Mr. Verbič attended the general meeting of Luka Koper and voted proxies for over 2,000 minority shareholder, including retail investors, who are opposed to SSH’s demands.

Other Related Activities:

VIDEO REPORT with the VZMD President’s address at the mass demonstration "We have Risen - the Rest of Slovenia will Follow!" before the Friday’s crucial General meeting of Port of Koper (Koper, June 2016)