GOVT. WILL ENSURE NORMAL WORK IN PUBLIC SERVICES DURING STRIKE

ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - To protect citizens who need not bear the consequences of the different stances of the government and public and civil servants' unions, the government will insist that all public and state services work normally during Thursday's union strike. Said unions announced a circular strike starting Thursday after the government turned down their demand for a five percent basic salary increase and a proposal to settle the dispute by independent arbitration. Elementary schools, colleges and science institutions will be on strike tomorrow, health and social welfare on Friday, and state administration on Monday. The government requested the managers and directors of public and state institutions to ensure work and undisturbed services for the duration of the strike, but also not to disturb employees on strike in any way, said Deputy Prime Minister Zeljka Antunovic. The government has also requested a detailed list of workers on strike due to the possibility of enforcing a legal provision to not pay working hours for time spent on strike. As regards the strike of employees in state administration, Antunovic said their participation in the strike would not obstruct the government in implementing necessary reforms and rationalisation in the "exceptionally inefficient administrative apparatus" at all levels. The government is unhappy with the announced strike as it continues to believe the dispute may be solved via social dialogue, she said. (hina) ha