UNION OF PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES DISSATISFIED WITH THIS YEAR'S FUNDS FOR SCIENCE

ZAGREB, Feb 27 (Hina) - The Croatian Public Servants Trade Union has issued a press release in which it says that the draft state budget for this year is neither development-oriented nor reform-intended.#L# According to the press release issued on Friday, the union said that the draft budget was fair in ethical and political terms as the new government fulfilled promises its members, i.e. Croatian Democratic Union (HDZ) , gave during the election campaign; the funds for Homeland War veterans would be increased by 22 percent, maternity benefits would be higher, and an additional 700 million kuna would be appropriated for pensioners. However, the draft budget is in contradiction to the fundamental promises, as this is not a budget that can set Croatia into motion. It will rather stop Croatia, unionists said. The former government improved and stabilised the financial situation in the science and education sector, although it was not enough, The new authorities abandoned plans to increase budgetary funds in this sector, the unionists complained, adding that according to the draft budget, an increase of 5.8 percent in this year's appropriated funds for science and education was twice as low as in previous years. Croatia is abandoning the policy it has pursued for three years when it tried to catch up with the EU in amounts secured for science and education, and this is being done at a time when the entire human race is leaving industrial society and entering a society of knowledge. In order to catch up with Europe, which is lagging behind the United States, Croatia should allocate 17 percent rather than 4.5 percent of its GDP for science and education. The union does not see that there are enough funds for a rise in salaries or for other entitlements and benefits employees in this sector should have under the collective agreement. (Hina) ms sb