ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - Union of Science and University Education main council chairman Vilim Ribic described Thursday's strike in faculties and science institutes as very successful. The turnout was between 60 and 70 per cent of
union members, and exceeded our expectations, he stressed. The science union, together with the Union of Croatian teachers (SHU) organised a strike Thursday, protesting against the government's refusing to increase the salary basis by five per cent for employees in public and state services. Although last week's turnout was 90 per cent, Ribic stressed today's percentage of protesters spoke for itself about what scientists and faculty educated people thought about the government's policy. Commenting on a statement by vice-premier Zeljka Antunovic that the strike turnout was very low, Ribic expressed surprise the government thought it a success that a third of primary schools and two-thirds of facult
ZAGREB, Dec 14 (Hina) - Union of Science and University Education
main council chairman Vilim Ribic described Thursday's strike in
faculties and science institutes as very successful. The turnout
was between 60 and 70 per cent of union members, and exceeded our
expectations, he stressed.
The science union, together with the Union of Croatian teachers
(SHU) organised a strike Thursday, protesting against the
government's refusing to increase the salary basis by five per cent
for employees in public and state services.
Although last week's turnout was 90 per cent, Ribic stressed
today's percentage of protesters spoke for itself about what
scientists and faculty educated people thought about the
government's policy.
Commenting on a statement by vice-premier Zeljka Antunovic that the
strike turnout was very low, Ribic expressed surprise the
government thought it a success that a third of primary schools and
two-thirds of faculties did not work today.
He said he believed the government would not carry out its
announcement on not paying employees during the time they spent
striking, adding this would bring the government more harm than
use.
According to information from the field, at most faculties in
Zagreb 60 per cent of employees took part in the strike, 68 per cent
at institutes in Croatia's capital, while in Split, Osijek and
Rijeka's faculties about 85 per cent of union members participated
in the strike.
Less than half members of the Union of Croatian Teachers in primary
schools took part in the strike today, SHU president Dalimir Kuba
reported.
He assessed the low turnout as expected, considering the fact that
the expectations and tensions among union members were decreased
following yesterday's adoption of the government budget for next
year.
Commenting on a statement by Prime Minister Ivica Racan that the
time unionists spent in the strike would not be paid, Kuba warned in
that case the union would level law suits as such a government
decision would be in contrast to a provision of the collective
agreement, according to which strike participants would not be
placed in unfavourable positions.
According to information at hand, Kuba said, the biggest turnout
was registered in the Istrian, Osijek-Baranja and Primorje-Gorski
Kotar counties, while Lika-Senj and Bjelovar-Bilogora county
registered the least number of protesters.
(hina) lml