PUBLIC SERVANTS UNION ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES COUNTERMOVE

ZAGREB, Sept 25 (Hina) - Head of the public servants union association Dalimir Kuba announced Tuesday the government-union negotiations on the draft collective agreement which significantly decreases public servants' benefits should start in two weeks. Under the draft agreement, for those employed in education, science, health and social care, Saturday would become another work-day, and bonuses for working nights, overtime, weekends, holidays, and second shifts would be cut. Instead of getting paid for overtime, the government also suggests workers get days off, in the 1:1.5 ratio. Labelling the draft agreement as an attempt to intimidate the people, Kuba said his association would counter the government's move with a draft agreement of their own, asking for higher bonuses than those guaranteed by the existing collective agreement. The Nurses Union main council president, Zdenka Gizdic, said decreasing bonuses for overtime and working nights, weekends and holidays was unacceptable. She claimed that would particularly affect the nursing staff, considering working nights is common practice in their line of work. (hina) js