CIVIL SERVANTS UNIONS UNSATISFIED WITH GOVT DECISION TO FREEZE WAGES

ZAGREB, Dec 23 (Hina) - A trade union of scientists and college employees and a trade union of teachers (called 'Preporod') on Saturday expressed disappointment with Government's wage policy and its decision to freeze salaries in this sector in 2001. The Ivica Racan Cabinet on Friday decided to freeze the salaries of state and judicial officials and those of civil servants and employees at this year's level and instructed public companies to keep the salary average at this year's level and not pay Christmas bonuses and holiday cash grants. The scientists union issued a statement today asserting that it is unacceptable to freeze salaries of public servants for next year without taking into consideration the fact that there is an unequal position between those employees and workers of state-run companies and the private sector in the economy. The sacrifices are acceptable if they are equally distributed in all sectors of the society and in accordance with the long-standing policy of unions, it added. This union complained that in 2000 it was only public services where wages were cut, while salaries of other workers had risen. This gap was the main reason of the recent strike organised by this and a few similar unions. The union also holds that it is not rational act of the Government to unilaterally terminate the collective agreement in public and state services. The union 'Preporod' also criticised the unilateral cancellation of the collective contract. 'Preporod' suggests to governmental officials and members of the parliament to reduce their salaries at the amount they received before assuming high offices or at the level of the average salary in the country. All of us should bear the burden of social and economic problems and state officials should set an example in this, Preporod leader Vinko Filipovic said. (hina) ms