IRONWORKS EMPLOYEES CONTINUE PROTEST DESPITE PLEDGE ON WAGES

SISAK, Nov 21 (Hina) - The trustee in bankruptcy of the Sisak Ironworks, Ilija Maric, on Thursday told workers who have been protesting on the New Bridge in Sisak since 1 p.m. that they would receive two late pays on Friday. However, about 2,000 protesters, joined by numerous citizens, did not disperse. #L# Following a meeting between Labour and Interior Ministers Davorko Vidovic and Sime Lucin, representatives of the company's trade unions, the council of creditors and Maric, Maric told the workers that the council had given their guarantee that the Croatian Privatisation Fund would issue sufficient funds to cover the two salaries. The council, he said, has guaranteed a loan amounting to 24.2 million kuna (EUR3.3 million) to cover two outstanding salaries, while a third pay would be paid to them next week, as agreed between the union representative and Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic on November 7. Asked by workers what would happen with the Ironworks after they received the late wages, when they could return to work and when the factory would begin production again, Maric said it was difficult to say at the moment, that negotiations with strategic partners were underway. Minister Vidovic told the workers the government had done all it could have and called on them to disperse, accusing those who organised the protest of politicising the issue and manipulation. This aroused dissatisfaction and bitterness amongst the workers and insults were hurled at Vidovic. Despite calls by union representative Mate Somic, workers did not wish to disperse even after they were addressed by Maric and Vidovic. Around 6 p.m. about 2,000 workers remained on the bridge. The were joined by a crowd of residents from Sisak, Petrinja and Kutina, as well as Sisak-Moslavina County Prefect Djuro Brodarac and other town and county officials. (hina) sp/ha sb