'BELJE' WORKERS TO CONTINUE WITH PROTEST ON TUESDAY

OSIJEK, March 27 (Hina) - Workers of the eastern Croatian agricultural firm "Belje" will resume the blockade of the Biljska Road between Osijek and Beli Manastir on Tuesday morning, and the blockade that was staged from 08:00 to 10:00 am Monday, will last one hour more each consecutive day until protesters' demands are fulfilled, three unions, whose members are Belje employees, said on Monday afternoon. We can cease the protest and commence negotiations on the restructuring of the firm only after at least three out of five back salaries are paid to employees or if the Croatian Government grants a short-term loan, worth 45 million kuna, for paying all those wages in arrears, a local unionist leader Slavko Kotromanovic told Hina on Monday evening. The unions also insist on the drafting of a plan for payment of monthly salaries until the end of this year with the precise mentioning of sources of financing. The protesters are intending to put barriers only on the Biljska road in coming days as they do not want to impede Baranja citizens and cuase more problems by closing more roads. The 'Belje' supervisory board's chairman, Zeljko Svedl, said that at Monday's meeting they offered to the unions to ensure one salary this week and another salary next week. This, however, was not accepted since the unions insisted on the immediate payment of at least three back wages. (hina) ms