ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - An independent union of science and higher education has stated the government's decision to cancel the collective agreement for science and higher education demonstrates its inability to adjust, through
dialogue, branch collective agreements with the Law on Salaries in Public Services. The government is thus fostering conflicts and social instability and deepening mistrust among social partners, reads a statement issued by the union on Tuesday. The union claims the government should have started talks on changes to the collective agreement earlier instead of cancelling it, which they say is an unusual and rare measure in democratic countries, taken only in extraordinary situations. The union therefore appeals to the government to reconsider its stands and meet its obligations and sign new agreements by the end of the year. The road to the new agreements should be paved with via
ZAGREB, Oct 2 (Hina) - An independent union of science and higher
education has stated the government's decision to cancel the
collective agreement for science and higher education demonstrates
its inability to adjust, through dialogue, branch collective
agreements with the Law on Salaries in Public Services.
The government is thus fostering conflicts and social instability
and deepening mistrust among social partners, reads a statement
issued by the union on Tuesday.
The union claims the government should have started talks on
changes to the collective agreement earlier instead of cancelling
it, which they say is an unusual and rare measure in democratic
countries, taken only in extraordinary situations.
The union therefore appeals to the government to reconsider its
stands and meet its obligations and sign new agreements by the end
of the year.
The road to the new agreements should be paved with viable proposals
which do not undermine the dignity of the other side, as has been the
case with the government's draft basic collective agreement for
public services, the union says.
It also warns that the government draft not only reduces the
workers' material rights but includes proposals which are aimed at
undermining and destroying union associations by limiting their
rights.
"We fear this is the beginning of the settling of accounts with the
unions, which are the only ones to protect the dignity of working
people from the invasion of anti-social and inhumane values in
Croatian society," reads the statement.
The unions of state and local servants and employees, police, and
military personnel have condemned the cancellation of the
collective agreement as well. The unions today signed an agreement
on cooperation and joint participation in upcoming talks on the new
collective agreement for public services.
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