UNIONS DOUBTFUL ABOUT START OF SCHOOL YEAR

ZAGREB, Aug 23 (Hina) - The leaders of two school unions -- the Independent Union of High School Employees and the "Preporod" union -- told a news conference today the school year would not begin as scheduled in Croatian high schools if union requests are not met by that time. During yesterday's talks with representatives of the Education and Sports Ministry, the unionists requested that employees be paid their compensations for transport before the start of the new school year, the payments of jubilee awards and holiday cash grants be signed, and collective negotiations completed, president of the Independent high school employees' union, Andrija Puljevic, said. If the union requests are not met, the two unions, gathering more than a half of all high school employees, said they would carry out a referendum on strike among their members. Since unionists agreed with Minister Vladimir Strugar during yesterday's talks on the formation of a union negotiating committee, collective negotiations could soon begin, so the unionists are hoping the school year might start on time, if their requests are met, Puljevic stressed. (hina) lml sb