Serbia's trade unions will for the first time join a protest Thursday called by student leaders, six months after the deadly train station tragedy that sparked mass demonstrations against corruption.

Serbia has been gripped by a wave of unrest since 16 people were killed in the collapse of the newly renovated railway station in Novi Sad last November -- a tragedy widely blamed on corruption and poor oversight

It has already led to the resignation of the Prime Minister and the fall of the government.

But on May 1, students and members of the five largest unions will gather in front of the Serbian government building in the capital, Belgrade.

The students announced on their official Instagram account that "their struggle enters a new phase".

Zeljko Veselinovic, leader of the "Sloga" (Unity) union, acknowledged the importance of the development in comments to AFP.

"The students have united us," he said.

"In my 20 years of union work, it has never happened that these five unions stood together at a protest -- or even in the same room -- working on something jointly," he........

© International Business Times