ZAGREB, May 17 (Hina) - A deputy prime minister on Thursday turned down the demands put forward by Croatian Telecom (HT) trade unions in connection with the restructuring of the HT. The unions announced a general strike for June 5.
After meeting representatives of six HT unions which protested in front of the government building in downtown Zagreb today, Deputy PM Slavko Linic said the government did not accept a union request to ensure more rights than those offered by the HT management for workers employed in non-main activities who will be transferred to newly-established companies by the end of the year. The unions will go on strike on June 5, when the entire HT system might be switched off unless the minimum volume of functioning was established, the president of the Croatian Telecommunications Trade Union, Josip Pupic, told Hina today. Linic, who also chairs the HT supervisory boar
ZAGREB, May 17 (Hina) - A deputy prime minister on Thursday turned
down the demands put forward by Croatian Telecom (HT) trade unions
in connection with the restructuring of the HT. The unions
announced a general strike for June 5.
After meeting representatives of six HT unions which protested in
front of the government building in downtown Zagreb today, Deputy
PM Slavko Linic said the government did not accept a union request
to ensure more rights than those offered by the HT management for
workers employed in non-main activities who will be transferred to
newly-established companies by the end of the year.
The unions will go on strike on June 5, when the entire HT system
might be switched off unless the minimum volume of functioning was
established, the president of the Croatian Telecommunications
Trade Union, Josip Pupic, told Hina today.
Linic, who also chairs the HT supervisory board, told reporters he
was not afraid of threats of a general strike. He is confident the HT
employees are more moderate than their union leaders.
The government turned down the union demands, estimating the HT
management offer on the protection of 1,404 workers employed in
non-main activities is better than those extended by other
companies undergoing restructuring, like Croatian Railways, the
HEP power utility company, and the INA oil industry.
According to Linic, the HT management offer to provide workers who
will be transferred to new companies with salaries over the next
three years as though they were still employed at the HT, and with
another two years of protection in case of bankruptcy, "is more than
good" as in the period in question the newly-established companies
would manage to survive on the market.
The HT unions demand that the aforementioned rights be ensured over
the next five years and another five in case of bankruptcy.
Linic accused them of not protecting the workers in other state-
owned companies undergoing restructuring, and of damaging the HT,
whose stocks might lose in value due to union activities.
The HT unions also demand the return of 72 million kuna (approx.
$8.6 million) the HT owes them for failing to act in line with the
work agreement. Alojz Tusek, the minister of maritime affairs,
transport, and communications, told reporters the unions were told
to settle the issue with the HT management.
Before talking to government representatives, some 500 union
commissioners protested in front of the HT management building in
downtown Zagreb.
(hina) ha sb