ZAGREB AUTHORITIES ON 8.5 PCT PAY RISE ZAGREB, March 13 (Hina) - The trade unions of 10 out of 23 companies owned by the City of Zagreb signed a supplement to the collective agreement with the city authorities on Saturday under which
wages in those companies would be increased by 8.5 per cent this year and 7.5 per cent next.
ZAGREB, March 13 (Hina) - The trade unions of 10 out of 23 companies
owned by the City of Zagreb signed a supplement to the collective
agreement with the city authorities on Saturday under which wages in
those companies would be increased by 8.5 per cent this year and 7.5
per cent next.#L#
It was agreed that the prices of services of those companies would not
rise this year, and that funds intended for the pay rise would be
raised through rationalisation of their business operations, with no
layoffs.
The supplement to the collective agreement also stipulates that in the
event of a rise in the cost of living, the wages of employees in
municipal companies will be increased to match the rate of the rise in
living costs.
Except the trade unions of the transport company ZET, the supplement
was signed by the trade unions of all municipal companies which had
earlier announced a general strike for Monday seeking a 17-percent pay
rise.
Representatives of three out of four ZET trade unions walked out of
the negotiations today, while the remaining representative, Ante
Harni, said that the ZET unions agreed on Friday that they would not
agree to a pay rise below 10 per cent.
Harni said he would inform the other trade unions and as many ZET
workers as possible of the proposed supplement over the weekend so
that they could decide whether they would accept the proposal or would
go on general strike as planned.
The head of the negotiating team of the Zagreb city government,
Ladislav Prezigalo, said he was pleased with the agreement, adding
that it would satisfy not only the trade unions and the city
authorities but also citizens.
Deputy Mayor Milan Bandic of the Social Democratic Party (SDP)
dismissed allegations by the Deputy Mayor in charge of economic
affairs, Stipe Tojcic of the Croatian People's Party (HNS), who had
accused Bandic of manipulation.
Tojcic told reporters earlier on Saturday that the proposed pay
increase of seven percent, which was presented to the trade unions by
negotiators from the city government, had not been discussed by the
city government.
"The city government has given us the authority to conduct
negotiations on our own," Bandic said.
Asked if the prices of municipal services would rise next year, Bandic
said he did not know.
(Hina) vm