Novi Sad professors file lawsuits against Jovan Jovanović Zmaj Gymnasium director

Dismissed professors from the ‘Jovan Jovanović Zmaj’ Gymnasium in Novi Sad have filed 10 lawsuits against the school director, Radivoje P. Stojković, seeking to annul decisions regarding the termination of their employment. The educators claim the terminations were based on contract annexes unilaterally imposed by the director rather than through mutual agreement.

The dismissed staff, many of whom have over a decade of experience, allege that the director has failed to fulfill legal obligations under the Labor Law, including the payment of outstanding salaries, compensation for unused annual leave, and project fees. They also claim the director has obstructed their ability to apply for unemployment benefits through the National Employment Service.

Additionally, parents of students at the gymnasium have reported that the director has repeatedly failed to appear before the Misdemeanor Court regarding 24 misdemeanor complaints filed by teachers. These complaints concern the failure to issue official decisions regarding annual leave and the 40-hour work week. Parents expressed concern that the director is intentionally avoiding court hearings to allow the legal proceedings to expire due to the statute of limitations. If found liable, the school could face cumulative fines exceeding 15 million dinars.