CROATIAN PEASANTS' PARTY & POST UNION SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Hina) - The presidents of the Croatian Peasants' Party (HSS) and the Croatian Union of Post and Telecommunications (HSPT) on Thursday signed an agreement on cooperation on the occasion of an impending parliamentary elections. The agreement has no legal effect, but a moral obligation, HSS' Tomcic told the press. He pointed out the new government and unions would need social peace and other conditions necessary to resolve the piled economic problems. The HSS has already signed to that effect a series of similar agreements with unions and non-party organisations. HSPT's Josip Pupic said he would recommend to its 10,000 members to vote at the election for the parties making the Opposition Six coalition, of which the HSS is one. The agreement binds the HSS to endorse changes to the Law on the Privatisation of Croatian Telecom (HT), to the effect of raising the seven percent of HT shares intended for purchase by HT's former and current employees, and to advocate the possibility that HT employees purchase the shares before they are placed on the market. The agreement also binds the HSS to advocate the signing of a collective agreement for HT employees, with a social clause which should prevent the laying off of HT workers in the next five years without an agreement with the union. (hina) ha