GOVT FAILS TO SUGGEST SALARY BASIS IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH UNIONS

ZAGREB, Nov 7 (Hina) - The next ten days will be critical for social peace in Croatia, because despite announcements, the government has failed to suggest a salary basis for next year, nor has it drawn up corrections to the coefficient regulations, president of the Public Services Trade Unions Alliance, Dalimir Kuba, said on Wednesday after talks between the government and public services trade unions. A discussion on the basis of salaries and corrections to salary coefficients will continue on Monday, he announced. Croatian Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic acquainted the unionists with a draft government budget for 2002, which should amount to 72 billion kuna, and the total salary mass to 20 billion kuna. The government is suggesting a ten percent budgetary decrease for certain ministries, which is within expected limits, but whether the salaries of public servants would decrease remains to be been after the salary basis and coefficient corrections are reached, Kuba said. According to union announcements, a meeting between government officials and five trade unions should take place on Friday at which the government's salary policy for next year will be discussed. (hina) lml