POLICE UNION DISSATISFIED WITH INTERIOR MINISTRY'S RELATIONSHIP TO UNIONS

ZAGREB, Dec 1 (Hina) - A total of 6,000 workers will be declared redundant after the reorganisation of the Interior Ministry and the Ministry is not allowing police unions to gain insight into the new job systematisation and models of providing for the surplus work force, the president of the Independent Police Union, Zdravko Loncar, told reporters on Friday. The Union members are concerned about their survival but the union cannot and the ministry will not provide answers to their numerous questions, said Loncar, criticising the ministry for avoiding dialogue with and its 'arrogant' behaviour toward the unions. Loncar also warned that the rights of police officers from the collective agreement (overtime work and night work, daily allowances etc.) were not being respected. The union demands of Interior Minister Sime Lucin to allow access to documents on the job systematisation of the ministry and explain the criteria according to which it will be determined who is redundant and who loses powers. It also demands that union representatives be included in expert groups which will deal with those issues. Kresimir Sever, president of the Independent Croatian Workers Unions, which was recently joined by Loncar's union, said he would request a meeting with Lucin soon. (hina) rml