UNIONS SUPPORT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BUDISA AND MESIC

ZAGREB, Jan 19 (Hina) - The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Croatia (SSSH) recommends its members to vote for presidential candidates Drazen Budisa or Stipe Mesic - who come from the coalitions with whom the SSSH had signed an agreement on a just Croatia before parliamentary elections, union officials told reporters in Zagreb on Wednesday. "We are not interested in the name of the individual who will win the election, but rather in who has signed with us the agreement on turning Croatia into a democratic and social state with the rule of law," SSSH president Davor Juric said. The agreement was signed by the then Opposition Six parties - the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the Croatian Social Liberal Party (HSLS), which nominated Drazen Budisa presidential candidate, and the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS), Croatian People's Party (HNS), Istrian Democratic Assembly (IDS), and the Liberal Party (LS), with candidate Stipe Mesic. The majority of SSSH members were members of the non-government organisation "Voice 99" and many of its activists were volunteers in the GONG (an initiative gathering citizens who monitor elections). In order to help complete the process of establishing a civil society in Croatia, the SSSH will, as a co-founder and member of "Voice 2000" association, contribute to the successful completion of the presidential election as well, Juric said. The SSSH agrees with the proposal by the Croatian Employers' Association that on January 24, which was proclaimed a holiday due to the presidential election, companies which must fulfil their contractual obligations continue operating. The union also demands that employers allow all employees to go to the polls and pay for their work according to regulations from the collective agreement, work regulations or the Labour Law. (hina) rml