ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - Croatian Vice-Premier Slavko Linic could not specify on Thursday when workers of Sisak's Ironworks would receive two-month's worth of late salaries. He harshly denounced union leaders, the Sisak County prefect
and part of Sisak's town leadership for politicking, creating political disorder and chaos in the streets.
ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - Croatian Vice-Premier Slavko Linic could
not specify on Thursday when workers of Sisak's Ironworks would
receive two-month's worth of late salaries. He harshly denounced
union leaders, the Sisak County prefect and part of Sisak's town
leadership for politicking, creating political disorder and chaos
in the streets. #L#
The steering board of the Croatian Privatisation Fund last week
decided that the employees of Sisak's Ironworks, which has filed
for bankruptcy, be paid two full not minimal wages, for which 16
million kuna has been earmarked, Linic told reporters.
However, he explained, in order for the wages to be paid, the
trustee in bankruptcy, Ilija Maric, should secure agreement from
other creditors because the Bankruptcy Council and the Commercial
Court believe the payment of the two wages would put the other
creditors in an unfavourable position.
Linic expressed understanding for the workers, but not for the
union leaders, the irresponsible former owners (Russia's Trubo
Impex) who fled Croatia with the chief executive officer, or for
Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Djuro Brodarac and part of the town
leadership.
The prefect was the chairman of the Ironworks' Supervising
Committee for a number of years, and granted enormous managerial
contracts, while part of the town leadership criticised the
government for not choosing strategic partners even though it knew
that the government's role ended with the decision to start
bankruptcy proceedings, said the vice-premier.
He stressed that lies, making noise and people taking to the streets
were attempts to cover up the above mentioned facts. The trustee in
bankruptcy has so far pressed a number of felony charges against
former members of management and supervisory boards.
Union leaders are deceiving the workers, having done nothing for
three months to see that wages be paid, Linic said.
He stated that the failed transition of the Sisak Ironworks had so
far cost taxpayers 1.2 billion kuna.
He stressed that the Ironworks was not a strategic branch with
existent technology, but said he was aware of how important the
factory was to Sisak.
There are those who are interested in purchasing sections of the
Ironworks' plants, but potential strategic partners do not receive
favourable messages when unions, the prefect and some town leaders
act so irresponsibly, said the vice-premier.
Linic said he had never seen such intolerance and arrogance in the
three years he has been vice-premier.
(hina) lml sb