INA, HPT, HEP UNIONS STAGE PROTEST RALLY IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT

ZAGREB, Dec 6 (Hina) - About 50 members of the workers' unions of the Croatian Post and Telecommunications (HPT), oil company INA and oil industry, and the Croatian Power Supply (HEP) on Wednesday morning staged a protest rally in front of the parliament building in Zagreb demanding that the government withdraw its decision under which gross salaries in state-owned companies should be reduced to last year's level and possibly overpaid salaries would be returned over the next five months. According to the government conclusion of November 9, salaries in the HEP would be reduced by some 16 percent in the next five months, after which employees would receive salaries which would be six percent lower than the current ones. The protesters are distributing leaflets to parliamentary deputies, warning that the government conclusion violates collective agreements, the Labour Act and the Croatian Constitution. Collective agreements are respected in all democratic societies, the unionists say warning they would continue their activities until the conclusion is withdrawn. According to the leader of the INA workers' union, Bozo Mikusa, there are indications that the government could withdraw its decision. (hina) rml