SISAK IRONWORKS UNIONS ANNOUNCE NEW PROTEST

SISAK, Nov 15 (Hina) - On Monday, November 18 the Sisak Ironworks Workers' Union will stage a rally and launch other union action at the main entrance to the company because the workers have not been paid their overdue wages as was agreed on with Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic on November 7. #L# The workers are disappointed because the Croatian Privatisation Fund (HFP) on Friday reported that it could pay them only minimum wages amounting to 1,700 kuna (EUR227). The HFP has also requested that the union change its request for a loan totalling 24.2 million kuna, to be used for paying the overdue wages, which the union claims was agreed on with Linic. Union commissioners therefore no longer wish to discuss the matter with Linic and request to speak directly to Premier Ivica Racan. The company's bankruptcy manager Ilija Maric told reporters that four companies had shown interest in purchasing the Ironworks, of which three had submitted "serious offers". Those are Slovakia's Podbrezove Ironworks, Switzerland's Duferc, and a company from Italy, which has offered re-starting production on December 1, to be followed by a seven-month test period, after which it would submit its final offer, including the take-over of 900-1,200 workers, Maric said. (hina) sp rml sb