ANOTHER UNIONS LEAVES "PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT"

ZAGREB, June 7 (Hina) - The Association of Workers' Trade Unions of Croatia (URSH) has left the "Partnership for Development" agreement, because the government has proven to be an unreliable partner in solving economic and social problems, the union reported on Friday. #L# The URSH is the second union to leave the agreement, the first one being the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia. URSH president Boris Kunst said the union could not build social partnership with the government, which he said was at odds not only with the unions but with all other sides. The union leader said the government had better relations with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund than the unions. "The concept of the agreement was good, but it did not take very long before it became obvious that social partnership was not what the government wanted, it wanted to bow down to the World Bank and the IMF," he said. Kunst accused Labour and Social Welfare Minister Davorko Vidovic of instigating conflicts with the unions and of failing to solve any of the social issues. He reiterated the unions' request that Vidovic step down and proposed the dissolving of the Labour Ministry. "Partnership for Development" was signed on December 22 last year by the government, employers and unions. The agreement binds the signatories to cooperate in achieving strategic economic goals such as unemployment, export stimulation, and higher living standards. The agreement was signed by four of five union federations. The Independent Croatian Trade Unions refused to sign it, saying it was too general and only created the impression of social dialogue. The Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS) also announced the possibility of backing out of the agreement. If that happens, the Council of Croatian Public Service Workers Unions would be the only union to remain within the agreement. (hina) rml