'ZAGREPCANKA' MEAT INDUSTRY WORKERS CONTINUE PROTEST RALLIES

ZAGREB, Nov 16 (Hina) - Protest rallies staged by the workers of the 'Zagrepcanka' meat industry resumed in Zagreb on Thursday and a representative for the Croatian Association of Workers' Unions (HUS) announced that other dissatisfied Zagreb workers would stage rallies on November 24, when the Zagreb Summit is to take place. Some 200 workers of 'Zagrepcanka', a 100 percent state-owned company, who have been protesting for the sixth day in a row, today blocked traffic between 10am and noon at the junction of Zagreb's Vukovarska and Heinzel Streets. The workers are not giving up their request that they be given their salaries for September and October as well as severance pays for those who will lose their jobs, before the start of bankruptcy proceedings, which are scheduled for late November. At the beginning of today's rally, the head of the Zagreb HUS office, Mario Ivekovic, addressed the gathered in front of the 'Zagrepcanka' building in Heinzel Street, relaying a message by the Agriculture Ministry that three industrial farms were interested in cooperation with 'Zagrepcanka'. Their taking over of 'Zagrepcanka' stores and one meat-processing plant would help save about 200 jobs. The union cannot be satisfied with this, because the remaining 200 workers would end up at the Employment Bureau without their severance pays. Ivekovic told the gathered HUS's executive committee yesterday adopted the final decision on the organisation of protest rallies of all dissatisfied Zagreb workers during the opening of the Zagreb Summit on November 24. If the government fails to answer to that protest of warning, the HUS will organise mass rallies in December, Ivekovic said. The workers of 'Zagrepcanka' will continue blocking traffic every day until their requests are met. (hina) jn rml