CRO INDEPENDENT UNIONS AGAINST DRAFT SOCIAL AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Nov 21 (Hina) - One of Croatian federations of trade unions - the Independent Croatian Unions (NHS) - on Tuesday rejected a draft social agreement because the document is too vague and because the fact that the HNS has no longer confidence in a Government that is secretly trying to cut salaries in public companies. The NHS cannot have confidence in the Government which made a decision that violated the valid collective agreements in public firms, despite the reached consensus that during negotiations on the social pact, rights cited in the collective agreements would not be reduced, NHS President Kresimir Saver told a news conference on Tuesday. On 9 November, the Racan Cabinet decided that the gross salary in public and state-run companies for 2000 and 2001 should be returned to the 1999 level. In addition, the draft social pact is unacceptable as it is full of platitudes without any concrete time terms, the NHS complained. The Government has proposed the conclusion of a social peace for three years, a period which for the Racan Cabinet will be necessary for the recovery of the country from the economic crisis. The agreement on the matter should be made by Government officials, employers and unionists. Employers okayed the draft text, while unions opposed it. "The Government has obviously planned to give a walk-on role to unions," Sever said telling the Government "Don't force us to protest!" (hina) jn ms