UNION LEADER SAYS IRONWORKS PROTESTS WERE NOT POLITICISED

SISAK, Nov 22 (Hina) - The leader of trade unions with the Sisak Ironworks, Mato Somic, on Friday dismissed accusations that the 24- hour protest the company's workers staged at the town's New Bridge had been organised by town authorities and Sisak-Moslavina County prefect Djuro Brodarac. #L# The government and Deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic are responsible for the workers' protests because they reneged on their promise, said Somic, adding that the government, Linic, and all other bodies had had 13 days to pay overdue wages. Somic dismissed accusations that somebody outside the unions had organised the protest, which ended today at 2 p.m. Those making such claims are politicising the Ironworks, he said. The union leader also rejected Interior Minister Sime Lucin's claims that yesterday, when a column of workers reached the New Bridge, the intervention police did not use force. Wounds and bruises testify to the use of physical force, he said. (hina) ha sb