RAILWAY WORKERS TO DISCONTINUE TRAFFIC BETWEEN 11:15 AND 11:45 HRS TODAY

ZAGREB, July 9 (Hina) - The Croatian Railway Workers' Union will discontinue all railway traffic in Croatia for half an hour on Monday, July 12, in protest against a court action which was filed by the Croatian Railway (HZ) Administration Board against the Union. The HZ Administration Board claims that by discontinuing the railway traffic in April, trade unions broke the law on the HZ Labour. The HZ Administration Board demands the court to prohibit the trade unions to stage similar protests. President of the HZ Infrastructure Union Darko Pavicevic stressed, however, that the Croatian Constitution, the Law on Labour, and nine international documents which were signed by Croatia, guarantee the trade unions the right to organise industrial actions, including protests. HZ workers will also stage the protest because the HZ Administration Board started to implement a decision on laying off a certain number of employees without consulting the trade unions. According to Pavicevic, the third reason for the protest is that the identity of the person who assaulted vice president of engine drivers' union Ivan Tolic on April 26, has not yet been discovered. The trade unions forwarded a letter which includes all facts stated above to the Croatian President. (hina) ms