ZAGREB, Jan 3 (Hina) - Five union federations have requested the government to rescind a Dec. 22 conclusion which practically freezes salaries and announces the cancellation of work agreements in the public and state sector. "We
demand that the Government rescind the contentious conclusion of December 22 and within February 15 reach an agreement on the salary policy with the social partners," Kresimir Sever, president of Independent Croatian Unions, told reporters on Wednesday after a meeting of the five federations' presidents. The unions would like talks on the salary policy to begin by Jan. 15 at the latest. If the government turns their demands down, the five federation leaders will meet on the 16th and decide about joint warning actions, said Sever. The leaders did not want to go into details about the actions, but said they were ready to resort to all forms of union pressure, from protests
ZAGREB, Jan 3 (Hina) - Five union federations have requested the
government to rescind a Dec. 22 conclusion which practically
freezes salaries and announces the cancellation of work agreements
in the public and state sector.
"We demand that the Government rescind the contentious conclusion
of December 22 and within February 15 reach an agreement on the
salary policy with the social partners," Kresimir Sever, president
of Independent Croatian Unions, told reporters on Wednesday after a
meeting of the five federations' presidents.
The unions would like talks on the salary policy to begin by Jan. 15
at the latest. If the government turns their demands down, the five
federation leaders will meet on the 16th and decide about joint
warning actions, said Sever.
The leaders did not want to go into details about the actions, but
said they were ready to resort to all forms of union pressure, from
protests to strikes.
According to Vitomir Begovic, president of the Economic and Social
Council (GSV), who attended today's meeting, instead of passing
one-sided decisions, the government should sign an agreement on the
salary policy in the coming period.
The agreement should determine the lowest salary and the minimum
salary, provide for a selective adjustment of salaries according to
services, and tie the growth of salaries to the growth of Gross
National Product and production, said Begovic.
He added the GSV should convene in the next couple of weeks and that
Prime Minister Ivica Racan should attend.
After accusing each other only last week of attempting to disrupt
the union scene, the five federation leaders today stressed they
were capable of working together when it came to issues as important
as salaries and work agreements. "The workers' interests have
surpassed the interests of the union federations," said Boris
Kunst.
(hina) ha