'VUPIK' WORKERS BLOCK ROADS IN EASTERN CROATIA

SOTIN, Mar 3 (Hina) - About 400 employees with Vukovar's agricultural and food processing company 'VUPIK', members of the Union of Workers in Agriculture, Food and Tobacco Industry and Water Management (PPDIV) early on Friday morning blocked roads in eastern Croatia and the border crossing Tovarnik on the Croatian- Yugoslav border. VUPIK union members have been on strike since February 15 this year. They demand the payment of a part of unpaid wages, the signing of an agreement on the payment of unpaid wages and the adoption of a programme for the financial rehabilitation of the company. According to Zdenko Lovric, commissioner for PPDIV's branch in VUPIK, the decision to block roads was made after yesterday's talks between union leaders and First Deputy Prime Minister Goran Granic, since workers' requests had not been met. Lovric today send a list of workers' requests to Prime Minister Ivica Racan, including freezing the payment of rents, transport costs and other costs for workers-returnees and other workers who are not receiving salaries and live in the areas of special state concern. Those measures, Lovric said, would be a transitional solution aimed at securing the means of subsistence for workers- returnees and other workers who are not receiving salaries and the right to education for their children. The road blockade in the area of Vinkovci and Tovarnik is only a warning and it will be lifted during the morning, union representatives said. (hina) mm rml