ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - The unions of workers employed in public and state services, who went on a general strike on Friday, said they were mainly satisfied with the turnout. Unions of workers in education, higher education, science,
health, social welfare, culture, and state administration protested the government's refusal to raise their basic salaries by 8.5 percent and pay Christmas and child's bonuses. According to the Croatian Teachers' Union, some 15,2000 teachers and professors participated in the strike, which counters today's claim by the Education and Sports Ministry that most school workers did not go on strike. The claim was based on the fact that classes were held in most elementary and almost all high schools. The Independent Union of Science and Higher Education of Croatia reported a 100 percent participation in the strike in many colleges and science institutions. The Croatian C
ZAGREB, Dec 8 (Hina) - The unions of workers employed in public and
state services, who went on a general strike on Friday, said they
were mainly satisfied with the turnout.
Unions of workers in education, higher education, science, health,
social welfare, culture, and state administration protested the
government's refusal to raise their basic salaries by 8.5 percent
and pay Christmas and child's bonuses.
According to the Croatian Teachers' Union, some 15,2000 teachers
and professors participated in the strike, which counters today's
claim by the Education and Sports Ministry that most school workers
did not go on strike. The claim was based on the fact that classes
were held in most elementary and almost all high schools.
The Independent Union of Science and Higher Education of Croatia
reported a 100 percent participation in the strike in many colleges
and science institutions.
The Croatian Cultural Workers' Union said 798 of its 966 members
took part in the strike, which was a success in 14 cultural
institutions, among them the Croatian Restoration Institute, the
Croatian National Archive in Zagreb, and Zagreb's Croatian
National Theatre.
Between 70 and 90 percent of workers in 60 hospitals and about 200
health institutions took part in the warning strike, according to
health workers' unions. It is estimated about 25,000 of a total
40,000 members worked today's morning shift.
Despite the 12.00-16.00 hrs strike in hospitals and health
institutions, emergency rooms and intensive care units worked
regularly, urgent surgeries were performed, as was all other
necessary medical care.
The union of workers in social welfare said about 90 percent of its
members joined in the strike, which was organised in 153 of 220
institutions, for instance homes for children, the elderly, social
welfare centres. Social welfare beneficiaries did not suffer the
effects of the strike as on duty services were organised.
The Union of Civil Servants of Croatia reported about 60 percent of
the staff in state administration, without the police and the
military, took part in the strike. The turnout was big considering
that civil servants were somewhat apprehensive as their employer is
the government, said the Union, adding there had been instances of
pressure and prevention on the part of superiors.
Civil servants in parliament and the government did not participate
in the strike, even though 70 percent opted for it. In solidarity
with colleagues who did, most wore an "I'm on Strike" badge. All
parliamentary and government services worked full steam.
According to the government's Media and Public Relations Service,
parliament and the government employ 520, of which 354 are members
of the Union.
Public sector unions were today supported by the agricultural
workers' union, the biggest in the Federation of Independent Trade
Unions of Croatia.
Most trade unions in the largest national union federation did not
support today's strike, saying the public sector unions' demands
were inconsiderate of the difficult economic and financial
situation in the country.
(hina)