Dragan Milovanović (; born 30 September 1955) is a Serbian trade unionist and former politician. From 2001 to 2004, he was Serbia's minister of labour and employment. During his political career, Milovanović was the leader of the Association of Free and Independent Trade Unions (, ASNS) and the Labour Party of Serbia (, LPS).
Early life and career Milovanović was born to a working class family in Belgrade, in what was then the Socialist Republic of Serbia in the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia. He was raised in the city, studied at a technical high school, and began working in a New Belgrade metalworks factory in 1975; he was still officially employed with the same factory when his political career began. He also became the leader of the company Rubiko in 1993.K. Živanović and D. Petrović, "Politika je odličan biznis", Danas, 2 March 2010, accessed 16 December 2022.
Union leader Milovanović joined the Independent Trade Union of Workers in 1990 and became secretary of the Independent Union of Metalworkers of Serbia shortly thereafter. Serbian political life in this period was dominated by the authoritarian rule of Socialist Party of Serbia (Socijalistička partija Srbije, SPS) leader Slobodan Milošević, and Milovanović became an active opponent of the administration. In 1992, as a supporter of the opposition Democratic Movement of Serbia (Demokratski pokret Srbije, DEPOS) alliance, he led protests outside the building of the presidency of Serbia. The following year, he was active in seeking the release of Serbian Renewal Movement (Srpski pokret obnove, SPO) leaders Vuk and Danica Drašković from prison. He was named president of the Independent Union of the Steelworkers in 1994 and was re-elected in 1995.
The ASNS was founded on 2 July 1996, and Milovanović was appointed as its president.Robert Thomas, Serbia Under Miloševic: Politics in the 1990s, (London: Hurst & Company), 1999, p. 279."Dragan Milovanović", Glas javnosti, 31 August 2000, accessed 16 December 2022. The union supported the opposition Zajedno (English: Together) coalition in the 1996 federal and local elections, held later in the year.Uroš Komlenović, "Opposition and the Elections", Vreme, 6 October 1996, accessed 17 December 2022.Paul Wood, "Serb Leader's Soft Tactics Show Weakness, Strength," The Christian Science Monitor, 9 December 1996, p. 8. During the campaign, Milovanović organized a public transport strike in Belgrade that was broken by the city authorities; mayor Nebojša Čović described the strike as illegal and intended to cause unrest in advance of the vote.Gordana Kukić, "Belgrade authorities break transport strike," Reuters News, 29 October 1996.
Zajedno was successful at the local level in Belgrade and other major cities, but its victories were not initially recognized by the state authorities; this prompted large-scale civic protests against Milošević's administration. Milovanović brought the ASNS into the protests in December 1996, an event considered significant in that it was the first time organized labour had taken part in a major anti-government action in Milošević's Serbia.Julijana Mojsilović, "Unions Threaten to Join Protest, Up Pressure on Milošević," The Associated Press, 7 December 1996."Otvorićemo milion novih radnih mesta", Glas javnosti, 16 December 2003, accessed 16 December 2022.
Milavanović later represented the ASNS in anti-government protests that followed the Kosovo War and the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. He said in June 1999 that the labour situation in Serbia was perilous, with six hundred thousand unemployed and wages among the lowest in Europe. Responding to a suggestion that those made unemployed by the bombing would be asked to help with Serbia's reconstruction, he said, "This regime should know the workers will not work for them for peanuts any more, nor will they rebuild the country for free. [...] The Union won't allow any more unpaid work and will actively join the fight against the regime."Julijana Mojsilović, "Serb unions, opposition unite against Milošević," Reuters News, 28 June 1999.
The ASNS was in this period a part of the Alliance for Change, a coalition of opposition parties. Milovanović was a featured speaker at many opposition rallies; at one such event, he said, "Down with Slobodan Milošević! Go while you still can before we force you to!""Prokuplje opposition rally ends without incidents," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 8 July 1999 (Source: Pančevo Radio in Serbo-Croat 1900 gmt 8 Jul 99).Julijana Mojsilović, "Opposition rally hears calls for Milošević to go," Reuters News, 28 July 1999. In September 1999, he called for a general strike against the administration."Serbian trade unions threaten worker protests," Reuters News, 24 August 1999."Serbian unions announce general strike for 21st September," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Newsfile, 7 September 1999 (Source: Radio B2-92, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 7 Sep 99).
In 2000, Milovanović brought the ASNS into the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (Demokratska opozicija Srbije, DOS), a broad and ideologically diverse coalition of parties opposed to the Milošević administration. He continued to participate in opposition protests throughout the year."More than 20,000 turn out for anti-Milošević protest in Belgrade," Agence France-Presse, 15 May 2000.
The ASNS was a frequent rival to the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (Savez Samostalnih Sindikata Srbije, SSSS), which was generally aligned with Milošević."KFOR General Says Things 'Going Very Well,'" IPR Strategic Information Database, 26 September 1999.
Politician 2000 elections and after DOS candidate Vojislav Koštunica defeated Milošević in the 2000 Yugoslavian presidential election, a watershed moment in Serbian and Yugoslavian politics. As in 1996, the Milošević regime did not initially accept defeat, and a new wave of civic protests took place against the government; Milovanović participated in these events, helping to organize road blockades."Belgrade police arrest eight demonstrators after roadblocks," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Service: Central Europe & Balkans, 4 October 2000 (Source: Radio B2-92, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 1900 gmt 2 Oct 00). The Milošević regime ultimately fell from power on 5 October 2000.
In addition to winning the presidential election, the DOS also defeated the SPS in the concurrent elections for the Yugoslavian parliament. Milovanović appeared in the second position on the DOS's electoral list in the Vranje division for the Chamber of Citizens (i.e., the lower house of the federal parliament) and was given a mandate after the list won two seats; his endorsement was from both the ASNS and the Democratic Party (Demokratska stranka, DS).Izborna lista za Veće građana Savezne skupštine, Demokratske opozicije Srbije, , National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, accessed 24 November 2022.ИЗБОРИ 2000: ВЕЋЕ РЕПУБЛИКА И ВЕЋЕ ГРАЂАНА САВЕЗНЕ СКУПШТИНЕ, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Department of Statistics (2000), p. 62."Kompletan savezni parlament", Glas javnosti, 4 November 2000, accessed 16 December 2022. He served in the assembly for the term that followed. In 2002, when far-right Serbian Radical Party (Srpska radikalna stranka, SRS) leader Vojislav Šešelj made an inflammatory speech accusing DS leader Zoran Đinđić of being under the control of the Serbian mafia, Milovanović responded that parliamentary authorities should investigate if Šešelj was under the influence of drugs or alcohol."I Romima status manjine", Glas javnosti, 26 February 2002, accessed 16 December 2022.
The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was formally reconstituted as the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in February 2003, and the Assembly of Serbia and Montenegro was established as its legislative branch. The first members of this body were chosen by indirect election from the republican parliaments of Serbia and Montenegro, with each parliamentary group allowed representation proportional to its numbers. Only sitting members of the Serbian assembly or the Montenegrin assembly, or members of the Federal Assembly of Yugoslavia at the time of the country's reconstitution, were eligible to serve. Milovanović was not given a seat in the new body, and his parliamentary term came to an end."Poslanici nove države", Glas javnosti, 20 February 2003, accessed 29 November 2022.
Milovanović was also elected to the City Assembly of Belgrade for New Belgrade's fourth division in the 2000 Serbian local elections, which were held concurrently with the Yugoslavian elections. The DOS won a landslide victory in the city, and he served as a supporter of the government. He was not a candidate in the 2004 local elections.
Minister of Labour and Employment (2001–2004) The Serbian government fell after Milošević's defeat in the Yugoslavian election, and a new Serbian parliamentary election was called for December 2000. The DOS won a landslide majority victory, and DS leader Zoran Đinđić was chosen as Serbia's prime minister. On 18 January 2001, Milovanović was appointed as minister of labour and employment in the new government."New Serbian government approved," Agence France-Presse, 25 January 2001. To avoid a conflict of interest, he stood down from the ASNS presidency at this time."Milovanović ministar za rad", Glas javnosti, 17 January 2001, accessed 19 December 2002.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Milovanović faced frequent criticism and labour action from the rival SSSS during his time in office. In July 2001, SSSS leader Milenko Smiljanić argued that the government's new proposed labour legislation "threw workers' rights out the window"; one of his main criticisms was that the legislation would make it easier for employers for fire workers. He called for a general strike later in the year, demanding both the withdrawal of the legislation and Milovanović's resignation."Serb unions protest at labour law," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Newsfile, 16 July 2001 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in Serbo-Croat 16 Jul 01)."Serbian union threatens general strike over draft labour law," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring Newsfile, 15 October 2001 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1416 gmt 15 Oct 01)."Belgrade protesters demand resignation of Serbian labour minister," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring: Political, 17 October 2001 (Source: Radio Belgrade in Serbo-Croat 1000 gmt 17 Oct 01)."Thousands Of Yugoslav Workers Protest Proposed Labor Law," Dow Jones International News, 17 October 2001. Milovanović responded by noting the political nature of the strike, saying that some SPS managers were forcing their workers to participate."Serbian labour minister says unions turning failed strike into political fight," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 17 October 2001 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1841 gmt 17 Oct 01). Notwithstanding this, the government changed to the legislation to protect workers from dismissal and improve conditions for collective bargaining."Serbian government adopts changes to labour law," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Political, 18 October 2001 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1604 gmt 18 Oct 01). Milovanović also introduced a strategy in early 2002 to assist workers made redundant by privatization."Serbian government adopts plan to aid workers losing jobs through privatization," British Broadcasting Corporation Monitoring European – Economic, 7 March 2002 (Source: Tanjug news agency, Belgrade, in English 1413 gmt 7 Mar 02).