CRO ASSOCIATION OF TRADE UNIONS BEGINS THIRD CONVENTION

ZAGREB, Mar 11 (Hina) - The Croatian Association of Trade Unions (HUS) on Thursday began its third, three-day convention, under the motto "Only Through Unity and Solidarity Can We Achieve Our Goals". At the convention, 150 union representatives will adopt a new organisation document, statute, and strategy activity, and elect a new president and all bodies for the next, two-year mandate. According to HUS president Niko Gunjina, the current lack of organisation on the Croatian market is the result of the collusion of quasi-managers and unfair politicians. He pointed out the HUS had advocated an orderly market economy over the last four years. "What we have instead is a completely disorderly, neo-liberal market economy, which the Croat people will never accept," Gunjina said. An address was also made by Labour and Social Welfare Minister Joso Skara on behalf of the government. Skara promised the government would attempt to develop a society based on social dialogue, participation, and solidarity. The manager of the Croatian Employers' Association, Zeljko Ivancevic, said the instances of economic crimes in which certain employers were involved could not be a reason for employers and trade unions to quit dialogue, but should lead to debates on how to create conditions for development and social stability. (hina) ha rml