CROATIAN POST ON GENERAL STRIKE

ZAGREB, Dec 21 (Hina) - Croatia's postal unions, which went on strike on Friday due to the non-signing of a collective agreement, have been invited to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Communications to discuss their demands on Saturday. "We are still on strike, with a turnout of approximately 75 percent, but we are open to dialogue," the president of the Croatian Postal Union (HSP), Jadranka Dumbovic, told Hina. The strike, organised by the National Union of Croatian Post and Telecommunications Workers and the HSP, began at midnight on Thursday and will last until the unions' demands are met. Only the minimum scope of activities will be ensured for the duration of the strike. Only one postal office worked in Zadar, Sibenik, Osijek, and Dubrovnik, the unionists say. The situation was similar throughout the country, with a poor turnout recorded only in Slavonski Brod. The unions went on general strike after the government failed to okay the signing of an already initialled collective agreement and suggested reducing postal workers' rights as stated in their agreement to the level of the basic collective agreement for public services. The non-signing of the agreement may lead to the introduction of working Saturdays, the cancellation of local public transportation bonuses and meal vouchers, and a significant cut in severance wages and anniversary bonuses, the unionists say. (hina) ha