THEY WANT TO BREAK US BY REFERENDUM - INDEPENDENT TEACHERS UNION

ZAGREB, Sept 12 (Hina) - The Independent Trade Union of Secondary School Teachers, led by Vesna Kanizaj, on Sunday asserted that the purpose of a recently conducted referendum in secondary schools and pupils' dormitories on extension of the collective agreement was an attempt to weaken the position of this union for further negotiations and a budget. According to a statement issued by the union today, this has been a precedent having unpredictable consequences for the social relations between the employer and employees. During last week's referendum, employees with secondary schools and pupils' dormitories opted for the extension of the application of the collective agreement on the basic pay, the Christmas and child bonuses for 1999. The union's statement claimed that the Government's refusal to hold sincere negotiations with the Union led by Kanizaj presented a serious breach of law. During 1998, this union could not exercise its right to negotiate on salaries and bonuses, as the Education Ministry and the Croatian Government thwarted it, the statement read. In this way the law was disrespected, as the Government is obliged to forward proposals, the volume and contents of the needs of secondary schools to the Croatian national Sabor to decide on it, but the Government has failed to do so, the union added. The trade union also expressed concern about the quality of this school year in view to its dramatic beginning. (hina) ms