GENERAL STRIKE IN SERBIA: Here’s who participated and what activities are planned in the three largest cities!

Today, a general strike is taking place in Serbia, initiated by students and high school students, with support from various unions and professional associations.

This is the second major strike this year, following the one held on January 24.

Activities in Novi Sad

Students of the University of Novi Sad planned to gather on campus at 10:00 AM, followed by a protest march at 10:30 AM. At 11:52 AM, in front of the Serbian National Theatre, a fifteen-minute tribute to the victims is scheduled.

After that, the march will continue at 12:07 PM, passing by institutions such as JKP Informatika, JP Urbanism, the Basic Court, the Higher Public Prosecutor’s Office, JKP Čistoća, the Serbian Post, the Clinical Center of Vojvodina, the Institute for Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad Heating Plant, and Elektrovojvodina.

The march is expected to conclude by 4:00 PM.

Public sector unions in Novi Sad have expressed support but have not confirmed whether they will join the protest.

Activities in Belgrade

Senior students from several Belgrade schools, including the Electrical Engineering School “Nikola Tesla,” the Mathematical Gymnasium, First, Third, and Fifth Gymnasiums, as well as “Sveti Sava” Gymnasium, have announced a gathering at Slavija Square at 3:30 PM.

The protest march will begin at 4:00 PM, with planned routes toward the Ministry of Education, the Court of Appeals, the Government of Serbia, and the Palace of Justice. Participants will return to Slavija around 5:25 PM. A fifteen-minute silent tribute is planned from 5:30 PM to 5:45 PM, followed by fifteen minutes of noise. Speeches will begin at 6:00 PM, and the protest is expected to conclude at 7:00 PM.

Some groups of students from outside Belgrade plan to walk to the capital, a practice they have followed in previous protests.

Activities in Niš

An informal group of students from the University of Niš is organizing a protest in support of educators under the slogan “No Easing of Tensions.”

A statement from the organizing students indicates that the gathering will take place at 11:30 AM in front of the Basic Court building, followed by a fifteen-minute moment of silence at 11:52 AM to honor victims in Novi Sad.

A protest march to the School Administration will follow.

“The announcement that teachers’ salaries for February would be reduced or withheld has further angered us. Therefore, on Friday, during the general strike, we will take to the streets to support the educators,” stated the Informal Group of Students of the University of Niš.

Students have called on the citizens of Niš to join the general strike and halt all activities.

Media Supporting the General Strike

Portals under United Media – N1, Danas, Radar, Sportklub, Nova.rs, TV Nova, as well as newspapers Nova and Danas, have joined the general strike at the request of students.

Besides UM-affiliated media, the strike is also supported by the Vidik Srbije page and Lice ulice, which posted briefly on social media: “We support the general strike. See you in the streets and protests!”

The company SBB has also, as before, supported the call for a general strike and is joining the action.

Beta News Agency

Beta News Agency has announced that it will join the general strike by suspending news broadcasts from 11:52 AM to 12:07 PM.

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ART Box Portal

The contemporary art and culture promotion portal ART Box has stated that it is joining the strike.

Bar Associations

The Belgrade Bar Association, lawyers from the Kragujevac Bar Association, and lawyers from the Vojvodina Bar Association have joined the general strike.

Serbian Science Union Participates in One-Day Strike

In a statement, the Serbian Science Union expressed solidarity with students in blockade and supports their fight for the fulfillment of their justified demands.

Judiciary Employees to Halt Work for One Hour

The Judicial Authority Union has announced that its Main Board decided that employees in judicial institutions – courts, public prosecution offices, and institutions for the execution of criminal sanctions – will go on a one-hour warning strike on Friday, March 7.

Musicians Across Serbia Suspend Work

Musicians across Serbia have decided to cease work in support of student protests, as announced by the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, the National Theatre in Belgrade, and the Belgrade Philharmonic.

The Opera Orchestra of the Serbian National Theatre has been on strike since February 20, and over the coming weeks, musicians from the Belgrade Philharmonic, the choir and orchestra of the National Theatre in Belgrade, and members of all musical ensembles of the Serbian National Theatre will join, expanding the work stoppage to key cultural institutions across Serbia.

Cultural and Educational Institutions

The National Library has announced a two-day strike, as noted in a notice on its doors.

Bookstores Laguna and Delfi have asked citizens to postpone purchases on March 7.

Publishing house Geopolitika has announced that it is joining the general strike and that its editorial offices and bookstores will be closed.

University of Belgrade Joins the Strike

The extended rectorate of the University of Belgrade has called on employees in all university units to support students by halting work on March 7, 2025.

Businesses and Hospitality Establishments

Several small businesses in Belgrade have joined the action, including Studio Telo i Ples, Pipolli Handmade, Concept Store Tema Concept Room, and Restaurant Tri.

Online retailer Shoppster has joined the strike.

Companies TIM Center and Rezilient have also announced their participation.

Kraljevo – One-Hour Strike at Studenica Hospital

The Serbian Medical and Pharmaceutical Union (SLFS) in Kraljevo has announced a one-hour warning strike in front of the surgical block of Studenica Hospital.

Kragujevac – Bar Association Halts Work for an Entire Day

The Kragujevac Bar Association has announced that its members will cease work on March 7, 2025, except in urgent legal cases.

Pančevo

As during the January strike, Chaplin Bar from Starčevo has responded to the student call and will suspend operations for the entire day.

How to Get a Day Off for the General Strike?

Students from the Faculty of Medicine in Novi Sad have urged citizens to donate blood on March 6 and 7 to receive a legally granted day off, allowing them to participate in the general strike.

Swisslion – Takovo Serbia Joins the Strike

Swisslion – Takovo Serbia has announced that it is responding to the student, high school, and educator call and will join the general strike.

Who Called for the General Strike?

Protest marches, work stoppages, and blockades of stores, restaurants, cinemas, gas stations, and all consumer activities are expected on Friday as part of the new “general strike” called by students. The general strike is scheduled for March 7, with students, high school students, workers, and citizens supporting student protests taking to the streets of Novi Sad and Belgrade.

The protest march in Novi Sad, which initiated this “general strike,” will begin at 10:00 AM on the University Campus, visiting 13 public enterprises in the city.

Belgrade students and high school students have announced a new general strike for March 7, under the name “March of the Second Circle.” Senior students from several schools have published the protest march plan for the day of the general strike.