CRO POST & TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION ON MONDAY STRIKE

ZAGREB, May 24 (Hina) - The Croatian Post and Telecommunications Trade Union (HSPT) on Monday assessed today's one-hour strike had been successful. The Monday and several other strikes announced for the next few days are aimed at preventing a government bill on the privatisation of the Croatian Telecommunications company from being passed. Most post offices throughout Croatia ceased working between 12.00 and 13.00 hours during the Monday strike. Telecommunications were not broken given that the competent minister had not issued a decision on the necessary work scope during strike time, HSPT secretary-general Josip Pupic told Hina. The HSPT plans to hold similar strikes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Unless their demands are complied with, a day-long strike has been announced for Friday. The unionists demand participation in the passing of a HT privatisation law. They believe Croatian Post and Telecommunications past and current workers are entitled to shares in the worth of DM20,000, which they would pay back under privileged conditions. The money earned by the sale of the HT should, according to the HSPT, be invested in new jobs and the company's future development, and not in the financial rehabilitation of the pension and health funds. (hina) ha jn