SPLIT-BASED FACTORY'S WORKERS STAGE PROTEST RALLY

SPLIT, April 28 (Hina) - More than 1,000 workers of Split-based "Diokom" on Friday went to the streets demanding the payment of back salaries, stopping the factory's bankruptcy proceedings, and amendments to the Labour Law and the Bankruptcy Law. The protest rally was held in front of the City Authorities building. Very critical addresses were made by Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS) vice president Ozren Matijasevic, the head of the HUS County Office in Split, Jozo Maric, and the chairwoman of "Diokom's" strike committee, Marija Budimir Bekan. They said the protest was a serious warning to the authorities, the president of the republic, the premier and the president of parliament first of all, for whom the workers voted at January 3 parliamentary elections, demanding changes and a socially just Croatia. They won our votes because they promised they would listen to workers' issues. Now we see that instead of resolving the most important issues, Croatia's three leaders only deal with their quarrels and personnel crosswords, Maric said. We want order, work, and responsibility from them, and that they resolve the economic- social situation in the country, including stopping "Diokom's" bankruptcy, he added. (hina) ha jn