ZAGREB, Jan 22 (Hina) - Health Minister Andro Vlahusic and Vice Premier Anto Simonic will hold talks representatives of the Croatian Doctors' Union strikers' committee on Wednesday, the eighth day of a doctors' strike.
ZAGREB, Jan 22 (Hina) - Health Minister Andro Vlahusic and Vice
Premier Anto Simonic will hold talks representatives of the
Croatian Doctors' Union strikers' committee on Wednesday, the
eighth day of a doctors' strike. #L#
According to announcements, the vice premier and the health
minister should offer "an initiative for the peaceful solving of
the current dispute".
The head of the strikers' committee, Ivica Babic, confirmed last
night he would attend the meeting and welcomed the initiative. He
also expressed hope that the talks would lead to an agreement with
the government regarding union demands.
The strike began on January 15 and the doctors' union demands an
increase in interns' wages amounting to two average wages (7,000
kuna) and in specialists' wages to 9,000 kuna.
The government cannot agree to the union demands regarding the 45
percent increase in doctors' wages, said minister Vlahusic and
added the union was blackmailing the government.
The minister believes that the union had overstepped its
authorities by calling the citizens not to come to hospital.
Vlahusic warned that the Health Ministry would not be held
responsible, but the organisers and doctors personally, if the
lives of patients were jeopardised due to the strike.
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