Employees of the administration of the General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal have raised the alarm over what they describe as an unacceptable situation, saying they have been left without receiving their salaries because of disputes related to the financial treatment of judges.
In a lengthy statement to the media, the judicial administration said it is being held “hostage” in a conflict that does not belong to it, while alleging that court leaders are refusing to sign separate payrolls, leaving administrative employees without pay.
According to them, the situation is made even more unfair by the fact that when judges’ salary increases were discussed and approved, the judicial administration did not benefit proportionally and was not treated as part of the same financial problem.
The employees are demanding the immediate unblocking of salaries, a review of their financial treatment, and the guarantee of dignified working conditions.
They also raise concerns over the significant increase in workload following the new judicial map and the merger of six courts of appeal, stressing that the General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal now exercises jurisdiction across the entire territory of the country, while the increase in workload has not been reflected in staffing, resources or pay.
The administration also denounces the physical working conditions, citing overcrowded offices, lack of space, problems with ventilation, heating and cooling, as well as extended working hours.
“We are not asking for privileges. We ask that our work be valued, our salary be guaranteed and our dignity be respected,” the statement says, among other things.
Below is the full statement:
STATEMENT TO THE MEDIA
Judicial administration without salaries: “We cannot be held hostage in a conflict that is not ours; when judges’ salary increases were discussed and approved, the judicial administration was not treated as part of the same financial problem and did not benefit proportionally from these increases.
The administration of the General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal has addressed the relevant institutions with an urgent request for the immediate resolution of the situation created with salaries, as well as for a review of financial treatment and the guarantee of dignified working conditions.
Today, employees of the judicial administration are facing an unacceptable situation: they are not receiving their salaries, while disputes over the financial treatment of judges are producing direct consequences for the administration.
The judicial administration is being held hostage over the issue of judges’ salaries. Court leaders are not signing separate payrolls, with the consequence that administrative employees remain without their salaries.
This situation is particularly unfair for one simple reason: when judges’ salary increases were discussed and approved, the judicial administration was not treated as part of the same financial problem and did not benefit proportionally from these increases. Today, that same administration is being drawn into this issue and its salary is effectively being used as a means of pressure.
We cannot be part of the benefits only when we are expected to bear the burden of the consequences.
The salary of the administration cannot be used as an instrument of pressure to resolve the financial claims of another category. Any demand by judges regarding their financial treatment must follow its own institutional and legal path, without infringing on the right of administrative employees to receive payment for the work performed.
The consequences are not abstract. Behind every salary that does not arrive on time there is a family, a loan, rent, bills and daily obligations. Holding salaries hostage directly burdens the family economy of hundreds of employees, who continue to carry an extraordinary workload on their shoulders.
After the new judicial map and the merger of six courts of appeal, the General Jurisdiction Court of Appeal exercises jurisdiction across the entire territory of the country. The volume, intensity and responsibility of the administration have increased significantly, without being reflected proportionally in staffing, resources and salaries.
Meanwhile, the physical working conditions remain problematic: overcrowded offices, insufficient space, problems with ventilation, heating and cooling, combined with the workload and extended hours.
This situation is seriously threatening our physical and mental health and has significantly burdened our family life. Maximum performance, ever-higher responsibility and the handling of a nationwide workload cannot be demanded while employees work in difficult conditions and, in the end, do not even receive their salaries on time.
For this reason, the administration demands not only the immediate unblocking of salaries, but also a review and increase of the financial treatment of the judicial administration, in line with the responsibility and the real workload it faces after the judicial reform.
We are not asking for privileges. We ask that our work be valued, our salary be guaranteed and our dignity be respected.
The judicial administration cannot be left out when benefits are distributed and called in only when pressure must be exerted. We cannot be invisible when salaries are increased and become indispensable when salaries need to be blocked.
Our message to the relevant institutions is clear:
“DO NOT HOLD THE SALARIES OF THE JUDICIAL ADMINISTRATION HOSTAGE. Conflicts and claims over judges’ salaries cannot be paid for by our families. Unblock the salaries immediately, separate the responsibilities, and review the financial treatment of the administration. A system whose mission is to deliver justice cannot seek justice for itself by violating the rights of the people who keep it functioning every day.”