ECONOMY MINISTER AGREES TO HOLD MEETING WITH 'JEDINSTVO' UNIONISTS

ZAGREB, June 30 (Hina) - Workers at the Zagreb metal-processing company 'Jedinstvo' on Friday postponed a rally which they staged in front of the Government building earlier in the day, after they agreed with the Economy Minister to hold a meeting on Monday at which their request regarding the payment of backlog salaries would be discussed. Government representatives should be informed about this problem and the necessary documentation until Monday. After meeting Economy Minister Goranko Fizulic, 200 'Jedinstvo' workers dispersed and their union leaders warned that the strike, which started yesterday, would be frozen only if they were given strong guarantees at the Monday meeting that the workers would receive their backlog salaries. After meeting Minister Fizulic, a representative for the Union of Metal Workers, Josip Bardic, told reporters Fizulic believed 'Jedinstvo' had to continue operating so that it could fulfil the contracts it had signed with foreign companies. 'Jedinstvo' has signed a contract with the German company DSD worth seven million German marks, the implementation of which has been jeopardised due to the non-payment of salaries, Bardic said, adding the company had signed contracts with some other foreign companies as well. The last wages 'Jedinstvo' workers have received are those for March this year, and in the five last months of 1999, every workers received a part of his wage, amounting to some 750 kuna per month. The workers also request the Government to grant their company a loan and conduct the revision of ownership transformation and privatisation at the company. (hina) jn rml