POLICE PREVENT IRONWORKERS TO ENTER GOVERNMENT BUILDING

ZAGREB, July 26 (Hina) - Some 50 policemen prevented nearly 600 Sisak Ironworks' employees to enter the government building, in front of which they have been protesting since 10AM Thursday, after they found out about the government's decision on bankruptcy of their company. Shouting "Linic, you thief", the employees asked deputy Prime Minister Slavko Linic to personally announce the government's decision on Ironworks' future or else they would not leave. At today's session, the government decided to file Ironworks' bankruptcy with reorganisation and it entrusted the Croatian Privatisation Fund to pay all salaries the employees should have received to this day. According to a Union official, Ivo Marjanovic, the government suggests the bankruptcy along with an accelerated privatisation, after which some 500 workers would, by the end of this year, become surplus labour. The government promised that all employees would be taken care of with a severance pay. Ironworks' director Marijan Balenovic told reporters that the bankruptcy was the worst solution and advocated the Ironworks' recovery with the help of a strategic partner. The Ironworks' management supports an earlier restructure plan, in line with which 260 employees at the most would become surplus labour, Balenovic said. (hina) np it