OPATIJA, Dec 13 (Hina) - The president of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH), Davor Juric, will continue to hold this office for the next four years, delegates decided at an SSSH electoral congress in Opatija
on Friday.
OPATIJA, Dec 13 (Hina) - The president of the Federation of
Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH), Davor Juric, will
continue to hold this office for the next four years, delegates
decided at an SSSH electoral congress in Opatija on Friday. #L#
Juric gained 123 votes in a second round of voting while his
opponent, Ana Knezevic, president of Croatian Commerce Union, won
117 votes. In the first round she had ten votes more than Juric but
not sufficiently to be elected.
"There are not tangible arguments to indicate that the Federation
is falling apart," Juric said, dismissing claims in some media that
if he were re-elected president, some unions might walk out of the
SSSH.
Knezevic said it was yet to be seen how those unions would act,
including the textile union which did not even attend the Opatija
congress.
"The unity has been broken... and those who voted for Juric's option
are responsible for everything that will happen in the Federation
and on the union scene in general," Knezevic said. She added she
would continue working in the commercial sector union for the
benefit of the workers and the SSSH which, she said, requires vital
changes in its organisation and personnel structures.
During a debate about the work of unions that preceded the election,
critical tones prevailed, directed at the current SSSH
leadership.
Some comments compared the SSSH to a "dinosaur in extinction" or a
"union living in the past".
Delegates believe that the SSSH leadership lacked expertise, was
outdated in its working methods and lack of connection among branch
unions.
The electoral congress began the season of union elections in four
other union federations - the Independent Croatian Unions, the
Council of Croatian Public Service Workers' Unions, the Croatian
Association of Trade Unions, and the Association of Workers' Trade
Unions of Croatia.
All union leaders advocate, at least verbally, that the union scene
should be merged instead of having five federations with about 600
associated and autonomous unions.
(hina) sp/ha sb