PM: HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF KUNA CANNOT BE EXTORTED WITH STRIKES

ZAGREB, Jan 14 (Hina) - Some people believe that by exerting pressure on the government they might extort hundreds of millions of kuna, which is impossible, Croatian Prime Minister Ivica Racan told a Croatian Radio programme on Tuesday. #L# "The strike in primary schools did not succeed and how long it will last is in question. It is logical that the turnout is not as high as expected by the organisers because, I believe, the public has been informed about the situation," said Racan. The government has corrected certain arrears in salaries for teachers in primary and secondary schools, but cannot accept the request for a rise in salaries for all employees in schools, since this would mean that the salaries of others in public and civil services would have to increase. It is not just the 80 million kuna (approx. EUR10.6 million) per year for higher salaries in primary and secondary schools, but at least ten times as much -- about 800 million kuna for increased salaries for employees in other services with the same level of education, Racan said. The government does not have these 800 million kuna. The budget has been adopted, so it is impossible to get that kind of money, he said. The situation is similar with the announced strike of doctors who are requesting an enormous increase in salaries. This is unrealistic because the request for an increase in doctors' salaries will start an avalanche of requests for increased salaries, said the prime minister. "We can increase salaries only in the degree in which production and growth rate are increasing. To raise them by more would mean returning back toward the abyss, borrowing and returning debts," said Racan. He believes that doctors, however, would not be as passionate as to ignore their essential human and professional task -- to help another human being. Days spent in strike will not be paid because losses will be high anyway, he said. (hina) lml