ZAGREB ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) - The trade union of workers in the Nama department store chain and the Commerce Trade Unions of Croatia branch in the store chain on Thursday staged a public protest on Ban Jelacic Square in downtown
Zagreb. The protesters demand that the Croatian government, in negotiations with Nama representatives, find a solution which would satisfy all interested parties in the store chain, namely the owners, the management, the employees, the creditors, and the suppliers. Some 1,500 workers gathered on the capital's central square around noon, shouting "We want our salaries!" and "We want to work!", and blocking tram transport. They were joined by some 300 workers of furniture factory "Savric". Government representatives said they would commence negotiations after public transport had been reinstated, to which the protesters agreed, also forming a negotiating team which includes representativ
ZAGREB, July 22 (Hina) - The trade union of workers in the Nama
department store chain and the Commerce Trade Unions of Croatia
branch in the store chain on Thursday staged a public protest on Ban
Jelacic Square in downtown Zagreb.
The protesters demand that the Croatian government, in
negotiations with Nama representatives, find a solution which
would satisfy all interested parties in the store chain, namely the
owners, the management, the employees, the creditors, and the
suppliers.
Some 1,500 workers gathered on the capital's central square around
noon, shouting "We want our salaries!" and "We want to work!", and
blocking tram transport. They were joined by some 300 workers of
furniture factory "Savric".
Government representatives said they would commence negotiations
after public transport had been reinstated, to which the protesters
agreed, also forming a negotiating team which includes
representatives of the trade unions, the Nama management, and the
department store chain's majority owners.
Tram transport was however blocked again around one p.m.
The Nama trade unions rejected a Ministry of Economy proposal that
the store chain be separated into four companies, claiming this
would ruin the store chain. They demand that Nama remain a single
company, with four profit sources.
The unions further believe the proposal to turn Privredna bank's
claims into ownership over one or two of the four newly established
companies would put the bank in a privileged position, whereas
other creditors' status would be uncertain.
According to Dragica Petrinjak, president of the trade union of
Nama workers, today's protest rally was not reported because they
expected it would not be permitted, and because the unions
subsequently agreed on joint action.
The unions demand that the government fulfil its promise to assist
surplus labour at Nama, and that employees be paid 2,000 kuna
(US$278) until "normal" conditions were ensured for the payment of
salaries, she said.
The unionists said the protest would last as long as the government
failed to meet their demands.
(hina) ha