"ZVIJEZDA" EMPLOYEES BLOCK TRAFFIC DOWNTOWN ZAGREB

ZAGREB, June 29 (Hina) - About 700 employees of the Zagreb vegetable oil company "Zvijezda" started a protest on Tuesday morning 8am, and blocked Drziceva and Branimirova streets downtown Zagreb for traffic. The police were directing traffic to side roads. Public transportation was also discontinued at this part of the city. The protest was staged because 232 workers of the company were laid off today, and another 200 are to be dismissed. The Agrokor concern, which includes "Zvijezda", said it would be forced to lay off over 400 employees, because the current production volume of oil in "Zvijezda" was not necessary. Agrokor was planning to employ the redundant labour in its new centre in Zagreb. This centre should be constructed by loans from foreign investors. The Croatian Government put up collateral for the loan. "Zvijezda" employees unblocked the streets at noon and traffic is normalised. The protest was discontinued after a union delegation returned from talks with the Government. The talks will continue at the Croatian Labour and Social Welfare Ministry at 3 pm. The union holds the Government responsible for lay-offs because the Government put up collateral for the loan. According to a regional commissioner of the Agricultural Union, Ivica Rogic, unless the union receives guarantees at the talks this afternoon that all laid off workers be provided for, the protest will continue tomorrow morning at 8am. (hina) it