WORKERS STAGE PROTEST RALLY IN FRONT OF SISAK IRONWORKS

SISAK, Oct 16 (Hina) - About 300 workers with the Sisak Ironworks protested in front of the factory's management offices on Wednesday, dissatisfied with the fact that the management and the new owner, the Austrian-Russian corporation Trubo Impex, were not meeting contractual obligations. #L# The management and the owner have not yet paid out salaries for August and September, nor ensured conditions for the resumption of production. The workers have been kept on forced annual leave since October 1. The protest rally was organised by the metal branch of the Croatian Association of Trade Unions, who were joined by members of another unions. A union leader, Ivica Kenda, publicly criticised "the gentlemen from the Government who sold the Ironworks to a foreign investor and who boast that this was the most successful privatisation process in Croatia". The factory's managing director, Kresimir Landeka was interrupted by frequent inquiries from workers, as well as accusations that he was incompetent, flippant, and protecting the owner's interests. He said that representatives of the owner would come to Croatia on Thursday for talks on the situation in and plans for the Sisak Ironworks. Workers will be informed about the talks' conclusions by union commissioners or at a workers' meeting on Oct. 21 or 22, Landeka announced. He could not say when salaries for August and September would be paid out, or when and if the management would call them to return to work. (hina) ha sb