CROATIAN RAILWAYS UNION AND HNS TALK ABOUT ELECTORAL COOPERATION

ZAGREB, Nov 22 (Hina) - President of the Croatian Railway Workers Union (SZH) Drago Pericic and deputy president of the Croatian People's Party (HNS) Dragutin Lesar on Monday discussed possible union support to the HNS in the upcoming elections if it commits itself to solve problems of the Croatian railways (HZ) company and protect the interests of HZ employees. The SZH called on the ruling party and six opposition parties top cooperate, with the exception of the Istrian Democratic Assembly which is not interesting because there is practically no railway traffic in the Istria region, Pericic said. The union will sign an adequate contract with parties with whom it reaches an agreement, he said. The SZH and the HNS agreed that within the framework of Croatia's traffic strategy the position of the railway system must be improved, because the current strategy was adopted without taking into consideration the HZ interests, Pericic and Lesar said. They agreed that amendments to the Law on HZ and Labour Law should make it possible for HZ employees the right to strike, in line with international and Croatian standards. (hina) lml mm