More than €4,000 for Raonić, but no money for employee assistance; Camović Veličković: „Don’t be ridiculous“
Marijana Camović Veličković, a member of the Council of the Radio and Television of Montenegro, said that the body decided yesterday, at an electronic session, that the salary of Public Service Director General Boris Raonić would be more than €4,000. As she pointed out, the decision was supported by five votes, while Janko Ljumović joined her in voting against it.
Camović Veličković decided to inform the public about this because the Council did not inform the public of the outcome of the session at which, for the first time, Raonić’s work performance was considered as the basis for determining the amount of his monthly salary.
At the session, she explained why she opposed granting Raonić a variable payment equivalent to two average salaries (more than €2,000) at the company level for his performance during September, and she informed the public about this today.
- If Mr Drekalović’s proposal is adopted, Raonić would receive a variable payment greater than his basic salary, meaning that he would receive more than €4,000 in total. Raonić also submitted a document which he called a work report, in which he listed his promotional and regular activities that are an integral part of the position he has held for five years. Based on what he presented, I see no reason for awarding a variable payment; rather, I see an excuse to obtain this money - Camović Veličković said in her explanation.
She explained that, with the proposed addition, Raonić’s salary would be the same as it was when there was no lawful way to calculate it, „i.e. this Council would simply continue the same practice, which was legalised following the findings of the Budget Inspection, to which I do not wish to give my consent“.
- Let me address the items in the „report“ one by one: A Memorandum on the Promotion of Montenegrin Sport was signed. This is a PR activity related to something that is a statutory obligation of the public service and, apart from its protocol aspect, has no particular significance. Organisation of the EBU meeting. This is not an activity carried out during September, nor should someone in the position of Director General claim credit for it. The Radio Television of Montenegro has an entire department dealing with this. (Presumably recently supplemented by a person who committed a criminal offence to the detriment of the Public Broadcaster itself, by abusing her official position as a Council member, which is certainly not a recommendation for a variable payment; quite the opposite.) Preparation of the Systematisation Act. It is precisely because of Raonić that this has become an endless process at the Radio Television of Montenegro. According to my information, sector managers no longer even know what they are supposed to propose as amendments because they are not allowed to change job descriptions, the number of employees, and so on. Therefore, they have been unable to participate in proposing new changes which will nevertheless be introduced against their will and without regard to actual needs. Coordination and appointment of the commission for programme plans, as well as item 5, the beginning of the new programming season, are part of regular activities - Camović Veličković said, among other things.
According to her information, as she says can be seen in the „work report“, not a single second of programming was digitised during August. Employees who perform this as additional work, and who have the most time available for it precisely during August, were told that there was no money for fees and that they therefore could not be engaged. She asks how it is possible that there is no money and that such work is simply left waiting.
Camović Veličković also noted that financial assistance to employees in cases of illness had not been paid for two months, despite there being a large number of justified requests. She asked why.
- A few days ago, the Public Broadcaster lost a case before the Basic Court brought by one of its employees who was denied points during the ranking process for apartments. Whose responsibility is that? The persecution of members of the Employees’ Union is continuing. People are testifying to this. You have also received a detailed email from the Union on this matter. Is that something worthy of a performance bonus? It is inappropriate to award a variable payment to a person who is required to repay at least €30,000 to the Radio Television of Montenegro because of an unlawful salary calculation, while the proposed amount is completely absurd - she stressed.
She also said that an item concerning the coup that took place a month ago, allegedly orchestrated by the newly established Professional Service, should have been included on the agenda of the Council’s regular, rather than electronic, session, adding that the Council has provided no response to the matter.
She recalled that, since 2 September, she had been seeking basic information that she had still not received.
- This concerns certain documents that someone took it upon themselves to send to the Parliament of Montenegro behind the backs of Council members and in excess of their authority, presenting themselves as the „Professional Service“ and using the Council’s registry stamp. That same person, or persons, communicated with the daily newspaper Pobjeda, providing answers to its questions, without anyone on the Council even thinking to ask who was writing those answers and on whose behalf. I remind you that the documents concern Janko Ljumović, whose „head“ is being sought by the ruling parties, and someone at the Public Broadcaster is preparing the ground for them to do so. Ultimately, the Director General is responsible, because these are his employees. As I already announced in my last email, to which no one has responded for 10 days, if no one is willing to provide answers, I am sure the police will manage to find them - Camović Veličković stressed.
Under these circumstances, she believes, a variable payment of more than €2,000 cannot be approved given the state of affairs at the public service.
- Don’t be ridiculous. Regarding item 2 and the travel orders for Mr Drekalović, I abstained - Camović Veličković said at yesterday’s session.