ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - The turnout of union members at Friday's strike in health, health insurance and social care institutions was much lower than at last week's strike of warning, representatives of health and social care unions
said. The unions organised the strike between noon and 4pm today protesting the government's decision to increase the basic salaries of public and civil servants by five percent. Between 50 and 60% of union members from 60 hospitals and about 200 health institutions participated in the strike, which is 30% less than the last time, Drazen Managic, secretary of the Union of Health and Pension-Disability Insurance Workers, said. The turnout was even lower in 170 institutions of social care, where only 1500 union members participated in a strike of symbolic duration of a half to one hour, said the president of the Union of Social Care Workers, Radoslav Golac. Managic
ZAGREB, Dec 15 (Hina) - The turnout of union members at Friday's
strike in health, health insurance and social care institutions was
much lower than at last week's strike of warning, representatives
of health and social care unions said.
The unions organised the strike between noon and 4pm today
protesting the government's decision to increase the basic
salaries of public and civil servants by five percent.
Between 50 and 60% of union members from 60 hospitals and about 200
health institutions participated in the strike, which is 30% less
than the last time, Drazen Managic, secretary of the Union of Health
and Pension-Disability Insurance Workers, said.
The turnout was even lower in 170 institutions of social care, where
only 1500 union members participated in a strike of symbolic
duration of a half to one hour, said the president of the Union of
Social Care Workers, Radoslav Golac.
Managic believes the poor turnout was expected because the
government's decision that strikers be listed and not paid for the
time spent on strike had served its purpose - intimidation of
workers.
Urgent and previously announced hospital arrivals were given
medical care during today's strike and the users of social care were
provided for as well.
Workers of the Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO) went on a
so-called 'white strike' with 1,000 workers resuming their
activities but strictly observing regulations, which
significantly slowed down their work, union commissioner Mladen
Kahofer said, adding the workers had decided on this form of strike
because of the government's threat of non-payment.
The Union of the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) today
decided to cancel a strike they announced for Monday 18 in protest
at the employer's refusal to sign a collective agreement with the
HZMO.
(hina) rml